Sanford’s Davis shines in debut with Knights
When UCF tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator Sean Beckton recruited Gabe Davis out of Sanford’s Seminole High, he saw signs of the future.
During the Seminoles’ Class 8A state semifinal overtime loss to Dr. Phillips last year, Beckton was on the sideline with UCF coach Scott Frost and quarterbacks coach Mario Verduzco and Beckton could be overheard saying, “That’s a man right there.”
Davis had just turned a short pass play into a 39-yard touchdown, strong-arming defenders along the way.
Fast forward to UCF’s season opener against FIU Thursday night and there was Davis again, catching balls and strong-arming more defenders, this time starting at receiver during his first collegiate game.
“It was real special. I just knew that I was going to put on for my family, that’s the biggest thing,” said Davis, a freshman who estimated about 50 friends and family members were at Spectrum Stadium to watch him make his UCF debut.
Davis got things going early, catching his first pass for 26 yards on UCF’s fourth play of the game. He caught another ball for seven yards on the next play. Davis recorded his first touchdown on a 10-yard strike from quarterback McKenzie Milton early in the second half and he ended up with four catches for 53 yards during the 61-17 UCF romp.
“I wasn’t as nervous as I thought I’d be,” Davis said. “At first, thinking about it, I was real nervous. But once I got on the field, just like Shaquem [Griffin] said, ‘We’ve been playing this game for so long, so it’s the same thing, just guys are a little faster and the hits are going to be a little crisper.’ ”
Getting the starting assignment was no surprise to Davis, who started practicing with the first-team offense two weeks into preseason camp. Frost has been impressed with Davis’ work ethic and his readiness coming into his first year.
“Gabe just went to work learning and right away was one of the hardest workers on the team,” Frost said. “Some freshmen come in and dip their toe in and don’t understand how to be a pro, as far as your approach to getting ready. We never had to say anything about that to Gabe.
“He came in and went to work and did things the right way from his first day on campus.”
Davis said his expectations have always been to be a key contributor early.
“I knew since Day 1 that I was going to work hard and put everything into it,” Davis said. “I’ve always done that my whole life.
“I’ve always been a hard worker. I’ve always went above what I thought I was going to do. … I was surprised when I got the [starting] spot, but at the same time I knew it was going to come.”
Davis did his best to prepare himself before arriving at UCF during the summer, putting himself in a position to play against FIU.
“When I was at Seminole, I got a little bit of the playbook, so I started to look over that a lot,” he said. “And then when I got here, I was real focused. I wouldn’t be going out or anything. I’d be studying my playbook because I knew at the end of the day, I’m working to make it to the [NFL], so all that partying can be done once I make it, once I do it on the field first.
“I haven’t done anything to be going out and partying and celebrating. Even me scoring a touchdown, that’s nothing. I still gotta keep going out there every single game, getting better and better.”
And whatever it is that Davis accomplishes won’t come as a surprise to Frost.
“Gabe’s going to be successful in anything he does in life because Gabe is a grownup. Gabe is a mature kid for his age and anything you ask him to do he’s going to do it and he’s going to do it right,” Frost said.