BAKER — Austin Davis is a classic small-school football player.
At 5 feet, 10 inches and 175 pounds, Davis is a jack-of-all-trades for Baker School’s football team.
On defense, he’s a ball hawking, tackling machine from his free safety position. When he’s on offense, Davis can break a long run from his tailback position and give the Gators a quick score.
Now a rising senior, Davis led Baker in rushing with 1,200 yards last year. He also was second on the team in tackles, behind linebacker Montae Barto.
“He’s a very athletic football player that can get around the ball on defense and make plays,” Gator Coach Matt Brunson said. “And definitely, when he has the ball in his hands, he has a chance to go the distance (score a touchdown).
“He’s fast enough to get it done on offense and defense and he will be our guy (main ball carrier), you know. He does a great job of taking care of the ball. He does a great job of carrying it and finishing runs behind his pads.
We now catch up with Austin Davis.
Q:How old were you when you started playing football?
A: When I first started, I was about 9 years old. My first year, though, I wasn’t as into it.
Q:What's the best part of football?
A: The best part is probably having the ball in your hand and being able to run the ball. It’s hanging out with your friends and creating the bonds on the football team.
Q:What's the worst part of football?
A: The worst part is probably the humidity down here in Florida when we are doing our summer workouts, with the CrossFit and all.
Q:What are your expectations this season?
A:This upcoming year, we should bond a whole lot better with this team. We should do pretty good. I know everybody is going to try their hardest.
Q:If you had to pick a different sport to play, what would it be?
A: It would be baseball. I’ve been playing it all of my life, even before football. I started with it at the age of 4 and I’ve just grown up with it in my life.
Q:What is your favorite football experience?
A:It would probably be this last year, when we played Northview for the district championship and beat them. I ran the ball a lot that game and it was just a great experience.
Q:What are your hobbies outside football?
A: Baseball, a lot. I’m involved with my church. We do a lot of (volunteer) work.
Q:What's your dream career?
A:I want to do something athletic. I don’t want to be stuck in a cubicle. I’m leaning toward something in the medical field like an athletic trainer.
Q:Do you want to play college football?
A:I’d love to play college football … My dream school has always been Georgia. Since I was a kid, I rooted for Georgia.
Q:What is your favorite movie?
A:Probably “The Blind Side.”
Q:Who is your favorite singer?
A:Lecrae, he’s a Christian rapper.
Q:If you could be a cartoon character, who would you be?
A:I know this one has been chosen before by Montae, but it would probably be Bugs Bunny, because he’s elusive and he’s always outwitting everybody.
Randy Dickson is the Crestview News Bulletin’s sports editor. Email him at randyd@crestviewbulletin.com, tweet him @cnb_sports, or call 682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Catching up with Baker's Austin Davis