Davis Ready to Lead the Way

6-foot-6, 325 lb., Jr. Anthony Davis comes into the 2009 season with over 20 starts and a 2nd Team All- Big East honor this past season. He was also one of the few sophomores to ever be named to the watch list for the Outland Trophy last pre-season. Obviously he is a talented football player, but he is a standout in more ways than one.

Not only does he move around the football field with the fluidity of a player half his size, but he has also inherited the responsibility that comes with being an upperclassmen on one of the better-projected offensive lines in the Big East.

When asked about becoming a leader for the 2009 season, Anthony Davis mentioned, “I do my best to step up and help push the guys on my team for us to be successful. I’m not the only one though. The whole offensive line is basically the leader on this team because we are the most experienced group on the team. And since we are the most experienced, the team can look to the us for guidance.”

Big East opponents may have a problem due to Davis’s strength and conditioning improvements forged by Coach Butler’s program this off-season. “ I’ve gotten stronger and tougher in order to prepare for the grind of the long season. I’m ready to go”, he stated.

Another coach that Davis attributes his success on the gridiron is Coach Flood whom he works closely with. Davis mentioned, “Coach Flood is a genius. He brings out the best in guys and is the great at what he does. He’s the best teacher I’ve ever had in either school or football… period”

Being that the offensive line returns 6 of their top linemen from last season, Anthony mentioned why he believes they will be a formidable group in the near future.

“Everybody’s gelled together so it’s a pleasure for us to play with each other and keep getting better with our chemistry. A lot of us have already played and have an understanding of what’s going on. We also get the younger guys involved for whenever we have to pass the torch.”

As for his goals for the upcoming season, it’s pretty simple; he stated“ We just need to protect the quarterback and average 200 plus rushing yards per game… That’s our goal. Nothing less than that will do.”

And as for who he is and his style of play on the football field, he admitted, “I just play… I just play football and keep going hard…That’s what I do, who I am and what I’m all about.”