Davis, Kargbo earn respect of Southeast football coaches, teammates

It wasn't an accident that senior safety Ben Kargbo and junior wide receiver/return man Spencer Davis were selected by Southeast Missouri State coach Tony Samuel as the Redhawks' player representatives during last month's Ohio Valley Conference media day.

Kargbo and Davis, both well-spoken and personable, are two of Southeast's most respected players.

That was not only evidenced by Samuel's decision to have Kargbo and Davis meet with the media in Nashville, Tenn., but also by the results of the recent voting to pick captains for this season.

Kargbo and Davis were elected by their teammates. Samuel was not surprised.

"Both are great kids. That's one of the beauties of being a coach -- you get to see these kids develop into fine young men," Samuel said Friday during Southeast's media/photo day, which was moved indoors to Houck Field House because of heavy rain. "It seems to me like both of them have made up their minds to make a difference, not only on the field. I think their teammates noticed that.

Southeast Missouri State University football players line up to have their photo taken during their media day Friday at Houck Field House. (Adam Vogler)

"I don't ever tell a [vote] count, but it was a pretty good count for both of them."

Kargbo and Davis both emphasized Friday that they are honored to have been elected captains -- especially since the voting is done by their teammates -- and that they don't take the responsibility lightly.

"It's very exciting, probably one of the most humbling accolades I've ever gotten in my life. To be chosen by your peers makes it more exciting," Kargbo said. "It's a big role. As I promised the guys, 'I'll lead you guys on and off the field, and most importantly in the classroom.'"

Said Davis: "It's real exciting. I appreciate my teammates for voting for me. I'll do the best I can on and off the field."

Kargbo will enter his third season with the FCS Redhawks after beginning his college career at FBS program Buffalo, where he saw action in six games as a true freshman under Turner Gill.

The 6-foot-1, 209-pound native of Albany, N.Y., decided to leave Buffalo after Gill departed to be the coach at Kansas. Southeast seemed like a natural fit after Brian "Moose" Mohnsen was hired as the Redhawks' defensive coordinator.

Mohnsen was one of Buffalo's defensive coaches when Kargbo played his one season there, and their relationship went back even longer than that.

"Coach Moose recruited me out of high school. We had a close relationship," Kargbo said.

Kargbo played in all 11 games and made two starts as a Southeast sophomore in 2011. He was a solid contributor with 26 tackles, including two for loss, and a fumble recovery. He also averaged a team-high 23.3 yards on nine kickoff returns.

Kargbo again saw action in all 11 games last season and was a key contributor off the bench. He recorded 22 tackles and a fumble recovery while averaging 18 yards on six kickoff returns.

"He's done a good job for us," Samuel said.

Kargbo admitted to some ups and downs during his first two Southeast seasons but he now is solidly established as a full-time starter. He eagerly anticipates the opportunity.

"Coaches told me to stick it through and your time will come. Now my time is here," Kargbo said with a smile. "It's very exciting. It feels like just yesterday when I transferred over here."

The Redhawks have struggled during Kargbo's two seasons, posting consecutive 3-8 overall and 2-6 OVC marks that placed them seventh in the nine-team league. They were picked eighth in this year's preseason poll, but Kargbo is undaunted.

"We'll let the pads do the talking," he said. "I think we'll be a pretty good team."

Davis already has been a two-year standout for the Redhawks -- that coming after his college football career was delayed by injury.

Davis was being counted on as Southeast's primary return man for both kickoffs and punts as a true freshman in 2010. But he suffered a torn ACL during practice early in fall camp and surgery ended his season well before it began.

"At the time it was very frustrating. Nobody wants to go down with an ACL injury," Davis said.

Davis didn't let that misfortune get him down, even though it prevented him from being an on-field part of Southeast's historic 2010 campaign that saw the Redhawks win the program's first OVC title and gain the program's first playoff berth.

"That injury just made me work harder," he said.

The graduate of Hazelwood Central High School in suburban St. Louis bounced back strong.

Davis was named to the OVC all-newcomer team as a redshirt freshman in 2011, when he started nine games and led the league in all-purpose yardage. He was Southeast's second-leading receiver with 20 catches for a 15.7-yard average while rushing for 250 yards with a whopping 27.8 yards per attempt. His 760 kickoff return yards rank third in school single-season history.

Davis had another strong season last year, again being Southeast's second-leading receiver with 20 catches for a 10.8-yard average while starting 10 of 11 games. He also rushed for 104 yards and averaged eight yards per attempt.

Davis ranked fifth in the OVC in kickoff returns last year with a 20.8-yard average, his 685 kickoff return yards being sixth all-time at Southeast. He accounted for 33 of the Redhawks' 48 kickoff returns and all seven of their punt returns, averaging seven yards.

Davis needs 494 yards to break Southeast's career record for kickoff return yardage. He currently is third in that category.

"Returns, that's my specialty," said a grinning Davis. "I started doing it my senior year [of high school]. Since then it's been a part of me."

What the 5-8, 175-pound Davis lacks in size he more than makes up for with quickness and speed.

"I never had the height. People always doubted me," Davis said. "But I always had the speed to back it up."

He has especially put his speed and quickness to good use on running plays as Southeast coaches have designed various ways to get him the ball in the open field.

"He's got that great speed," Samuel said.

Davis, who has been selected to the 2013 College Football Performance Awards All-Purpose Performer of the Year Watch List for the FCS, said his goals for this year are all team-oriented.

"Do the best I can to help the team win," he said. "We're going to exceed expectations ... just lead my team to a [conference] championship."