Davis ready to take on more for Van Buren Pointers

Van Buren’s Isaac Davis is considered one of the top defensive backs in the 7A-West going into the season. Now, he wants to add running back to those accolades, too. “I’m going to be playing offense and defense, I’m working on my stamina,” Davis said. “I’ve got to be ready to play an important role at running back. At corner, I’ve got to lock down people.” New head coach Casey Dick knows the value of an experienced cornerback especially with all of the returning quarterbacks in the 7A-West but also couldn’t pass up getting the ball into Davis’ hands at running back. “We’ll bring him over and put him at running back,” Dick said. “We have guys back there that we feel confident in in different situations in the game and can get some productivity out of them.” Even new defensive coordinator Kenneth Chick is willing to share Davis with the offense. “He’s got a great work ethic,” Chick said. “He’s going to play both ways for us; he’s going to play running back and corner. He really wants to improve his skill set. He works every day to do what he can do to help this team.” Davis has started 19 games for Van Buren at defensive back, playing in the secondary as a sophomore when another defensive player was moved over to offense. “I’ve been wanting to play offense since my sophomore year,” Davis said. “I want to play offense, too. Coming into my sophomore year, they put me at corner. We had to switch one of our corners to offense because we needed some help on the offensive side. That was the first time I’d play corner and I excelled at that position. I really love playing corner, but I love playing running back and I get to play both this year.” The Pointers have very little experience at running back returning this season, and Davis seemed a natural at the position in the spring and summer. “He’s such a weapon at running back,” Chick said. “He’s a natural at it. We’d be crazy not to utilize him there.” Davis was in on 42 tackles last year and proved to be a run-stopper, but his main contribution will be defending the aerial attacks in the pass-happy 7A-West. “The way we want to play on defense, our corners have to be able to play,” Chick said. “They’ve got to have short memories and go to work every play. We’re going to count on him. They’re going to be one on one at times.” Going up against Bentonville West’s talented quarterback-receiver tandem of Will Jarrett and Jason Jackson, Fayetteville quarterback Darius Bowers, and Springdale quarterback Grant Allen, Davis knows he will be tested this season. “That’s what I work for,” Davis said. “We come out here and work with each other and go to camps for challenges like that. I like going out and competing. It’s nice.” Davis is ready to contribute on both sides of the ball for the Pointers this season as part of the senior class that wants to head the program in the right direction under its new coaches. “This group, we have a lot of good people,” Davis said. “I like the offense we have. I love coach Chick, and the defense we’re running is really good.” On top of his play on the field, Davis also has worked on helping the Pointers off the field. “I have to be a leader this year,” Davis said. “We have a lot of young people coming in, and they’re looking up to us. Coach told me last year, that I was not necessarily a vocal leader. This year, I’m trying to be vocal.”

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Van Buren High School Athletics

DAVIS READY TO TAKE ON MORE FOR VAN BUREN POINTERS

LELAND BARCLAY

Times Record | 8/27/2018

PHOTO CREDIT: Brian D. Sanderford