Redhawks rookie return man tough to catch

~ Southeast will rely on Davis for special teams excitement

Spencer Davis might have been the state's most electrifying high school return man last year as a senior at Hazelwood Central in suburban St. Louis.

Davis vows to bring that same type of excitement to Southeast Missouri State's return game as a true freshman.

Asked following Tuesday morning's practice at sweltering Houck Stadium what Southeast fans can expect from him, a smiling Davis said: "Excitement on returns. Look for No. 4."

Davis is being counted on as Southeast's primary returner on kickoffs and punts following the departure of record-setting Jacob McKinley, who left the program following his sophomore season last year.

Southeast coach Tony Samuel believes the Redhawks' return game will be in good hands with the 5-foot-8, 175-pound Davis, who is about the same size as McKinley but with better speed.

"He'll do fine," Samuel said. "He's fast, first of all, and he's got good football instincts. He does a great job fielding punts and kickoffs.

"Sometimes you have a track guy who plays football. He's more of a football guy who ran track."

Davis, part of two state championship teams at Hazelwood Central in 2008 and 2009, did a little of everything for the Hawks as a senior when he scored 12 touchdowns, eight on punt returns.

Davis averaged eye-popping figures of 18.3 yards on 25 punt returns and 39.1 yards on eight kickoff returns. He also averaged 15 yards on eight carries, nearly 22 yards on seven receptions and recorded 37 tackles and an interception at cornerback.

"He's very versatile," said Samuel, who said Davis also might be able to help the Redhawks from scrimmage this year, perhaps as a slotback.

But it's his skills on returns that led Southeast to recruit Davis hard after some bigger programs took a look at him but eventually were scared off by his lack of size.

"I'm not so tall, but size doesn't matter to me," Davis said. "If you have the ability, you can play."

Davis demonstrated that during last year's Class 6 championship matchup against Blue Springs by turning in one of the key plays.

With Hazelwood Central clinging to a 28-24 lead in the fourth quarter, Davis scored on a 76-yard punt return to seal the Hawks' 35-24 win. Davis set a state record for the longest punt return in a title game.

Davis showed off his quickness and speed during that record return. He has timed a sizzling 10.6 seconds in the 100 meters and finished third in that event at the state track meet as a junior.

"My speed, my ability to get to the outside," Davis said in describing his most notable return traits.

Davis said he also was being recruited by Eastern Illinois and Missouri State before picking Southeast.

"The coaches impressed me a lot through the recruiting process," he said. "When I came for a visit, all the players were real cool. I said this is the place I need to be."

Less than a week into fall practice, with Davis slated to handle Southeast's kickoff and punt return duties, he knows he made the right choice.

"I'm real happy," he said. "I get a chance to play early, as a true freshman. Now I have to produce."

Davis is confident he'll be able to do that.

"I'm trying to make plays, as many plays as I can, do whatever I can to come out on top," he said. "My goal is to help my team win the conference."

Heat alters schedule

Southeast has adjusted its practice times due to the extreme heat and humidity.

This week's morning practices were scheduled to start at 8 a.m., but Tuesday's workout was moved to 6:30 a.m. and that will be the case at least the rest of the week.

"We had to shut it down early Monday, probably about three-fourths of the way through," Samuel said of Southeast's first practice in full pads. "It's the hottest [fall camp] we've had, but you have to play in it."

Southeast's first of five two-a-day sessions will be today, with its first of two scrimmages set for 9 a.m. Saturday.

Scrimmages and practices are open to the public.