Freshman WRs Davis, Stewart eager to impress
Paul Konyndyk
SpartanMag.com Associate Editor
Talk about it in The Underground Bunker
EAST LANSING - With four seniors and two juniors ahead of them on depth chart, it seems likely that freshmen Darrell Stewart (6-1, 198) and Felton Davis (6-4, 181) will have to wait until 2016 to earn regular work at wide receiver.
But experienced depth at wide receiver hasn't prevented the two first-year players from making a strong initial impression during training camp at Michigan State.
"Felton Davis and Darrell Stewart have both been impressive," Mark Dantonio said after practice on Wednesday. "They've got to learn it, and this is about consistency and performance over a period of time."
Freshman quarterback Brian Lewerke shares a similar viewpoint.
"Those guys are awesome," Lewerke said. "They've been awesome catching the ball. We've gotten a little connection, and I'm trying to get on the same page with them. Overall, I think they are great players."
Sustaining a high level of play can be difficult for freshmen during training camp. It is common for first-year players to hit a wall as practices get more physical, and the mental burden of absorbing a playbook becomes cumbersome.
"Here we are at Day 5," Dantonio said. "Can they keep they keep their legs? What they do in these next two weeks with the opportunities they have is really going to tell."
Both Stewart and Davis played demanding schedules at the high school level in their respective home states of Texas and Virginia.
Stewart was named district MVP at the 6A level (largest school) during his senior season at Houston's Nimitz High. He played quarterback, wide receiver, defensive back, and was a standout on special teams as a four-year starter.
"Just give me the ball, and I'll make magic happen," Stewart said with a grin. "I am a Y-A-C receiver. Get me the ball and I'm getting you yards after catch."
Davis was one of the most sought after prospects in the Richmond area as a multi-sport standout in football and track at Highland Springs. He was also recruited as a power conference track athlete, but always loved football a little bit more.
"My height and my speed make me difficult to match-up against," Davis said. "I use both to my advantage, because you don't see too many tall people who are really fast."
Sometimes tall wide receivers struggle to the catch the ball with their hands. Those that do have a tougher time making the transition from high school. Unlike those players, Davis excels catching the ball away from his body.
"It's been a lot of hard work, and I've been playing wide receiver since I was three," Davis said. "I have a lot experience catching the ball in different types of ways."
Nothing the two freshmen have experienced to this point in their football careers has prepared them for the mental grind during the dog days of training camp. But Davis did get a taste of what's to come during a special teams period on Wednesday.
He found himself doing a double take after a hard hit from linebacker Darien Harris, a fifth-year senior and second-year starter at the 'star' position.
"We were doing some kickoff stuff and he hit me," Davis said. "I slid about five yards on my back. I got up real quick."
Stewart has had his learning curve lightened by program veterans who have been there to answer questions during his transition to college football.
"Those guys have treated me like their little brother from the first day," he said. "They showed me the ins and the outs and the different things I needed to do to be prepared."
Added Davis: "My mindset is learning from the three guys in front of me on the depth chart. They know what they are doing, and I am trying to soak everything up like a sponge and rolling with it."
A rigorous off-season routine, which included countless hours of hill running and agility work has also proved beneficial for Stewart.
"I want to take advantage of the opportunity in his program," he said. "I am trying to be great, that getting in extra work to make sure I am prepared for the college level. Everything is different with this whole atmosphere. You've got to be in tune and in shape."
Stewart and Davis have developed a close bond during their short time in the program.
"That's my boy," Stewart said. "I love his excitement and his energy. He is my motivator. He gives me energy and I give him energy."
"We're pretty tight, already," Davis added. "He is learning the Z and I am learning the X, but it is great having someone to go through the system with."
Paul Konyndyk
SpartanMag.com Associate Editor
Talk about it in The Underground Bunker
EAST LANSING - With four seniors and two juniors ahead of them on depth chart, it seems likely that freshmen Darrell Stewart (6-1, 198) and Felton Davis (6-4, 181) will have to wait until 2016 to earn regular work at wide receiver.
But experienced depth at wide receiver hasn't prevented the two first-year players from making a strong initial impression during training camp at Michigan State.
"Felton Davis and Darrell Stewart have both been impressive," Mark Dantonio said after practice on Wednesday. "They've got to learn it, and this is about consistency and performance over a period of time."
Freshman quarterback Brian Lewerke shares a similar viewpoint.
"Those guys are awesome," Lewerke said. "They've been awesome catching the ball. We've gotten a little connection, and I'm trying to get on the same page with them. Overall, I think they are great players."
Sustaining a high level of play can be difficult for freshmen during training camp. It is common for first-year players to hit a wall as practices get more physical, and the mental burden of absorbing a playbook becomes cumbersome.
"Here we are at Day 5," Dantonio said. "Can they keep they keep their legs? What they do in these next two weeks with the opportunities they have is really going to tell."
Both Stewart and Davis played demanding schedules at the high school level in their respective home states of Texas and Virginia.
Stewart was named district MVP at the 6A level (largest school) during his senior season at Houston's Nimitz High. He played quarterback, wide receiver, defensive back, and was a standout on special teams as a four-year starter.
"Just give me the ball, and I'll make magic happen," Stewart said with a grin. "I am a Y-A-C receiver. Get me the ball and I'm getting you yards after catch."
Davis was one of the most sought after prospects in the Richmond area as a multi-sport standout in football and track at Highland Springs. He was also recruited as a power conference track athlete, but always loved football a little bit more.
"My height and my speed make me difficult to match-up against," Davis said. "I use both to my advantage, because you don't see too many tall people who are really fast."
Sometimes tall wide receivers struggle to the catch the ball with their hands. Those that do have a tougher time making the transition from high school. Unlike those players, Davis excels catching the ball away from his body.
"It's been a lot of hard work, and I've been playing wide receiver since I was three," Davis said. "I have a lot experience catching the ball in different types of ways."
Nothing the two freshmen have experienced to this point in their football careers has prepared them for the mental grind during the dog days of training camp. But Davis did get a taste of what's to come during a special teams period on Wednesday.
He found himself doing a double take after a hard hit from linebacker Darien Harris, a fifth-year senior and second-year starter at the 'star' position.
"We were doing some kickoff stuff and he hit me," Davis said. "I slid about five yards on my back. I got up real quick."
Stewart has had his learning curve lightened by program veterans who have been there to answer questions during his transition to college football.
"Those guys have treated me like their little brother from the first day," he said. "They showed me the ins and the outs and the different things I needed to do to be prepared."
Added Davis: "My mindset is learning from the three guys in front of me on the depth chart. They know what they are doing, and I am trying to soak everything up like a sponge and rolling with it."
A rigorous off-season routine, which included countless hours of hill running and agility work has also proved beneficial for Stewart.
"I want to take advantage of the opportunity in his program," he said. "I am trying to be great, that getting in extra work to make sure I am prepared for the college level. Everything is different with this whole atmosphere. You've got to be in tune and in shape."
Stewart and Davis have developed a close bond during their short time in the program.
"That's my boy," Stewart said. "I love his excitement and his energy. He is my motivator. He gives me energy and I give him energy."
"We're pretty tight, already," Davis added. "He is learning the Z and I am learning the X, but it is great having someone to go through the system with."
