Video: Ultimate Highlights of Wyatt Davis
The five-star St. John Bosco offensive lineman at his very best.The grandfather of
St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) five-star offensive lineman
Wyatt Davis is Willie Davis, an NFL Hall of Fame defensive end for Green Bay Packers. He played on the first two Super Bowl championship teams in 1967 and 1968.
"He's one of the greatest of all time, no question," St. John Bosco coach Jason Negro.
Wyatt Davis, St. John Bosco
Photo by Heston Quan
Wyatt Davis' father — Willie's son — is actor Duane Davis, who has played famous athletes in several motion pictures, including Joe Louis, Buster Douglas and fictional college football star Alvin Mack in "The Program," which starred Halle Berry and James Caan.
"One of my all-time favorite movies and Alvin Mack is one of my favorite characters," Negro said. "Unforgettable. Really intense."
The apple hasn't fallen far from the tree. Only in this case, the apple didn't fall but levitated.
At 6-foot-5, 310 pounds, Ohio State-bound Wyatt Davis is taller and bigger than his dad or grandpa. But he shares a talent for the game, a charming personality, intensity and superb focus.
He's the No. 1 rated guard in the country according to 247Sports composite, the No. 15 recruit overall and for sure he's the top prospect heading into Saturday CIF Open Division Bowl Championship between the Braves and De La Salle (Concord, Calif.) at Sacramento State University.
"I'd love to have him that's for sure," said De La Salle head coach Justin Alumbaugh, considered one of the premier offensive line coaches in the country before taking over for legendary Bob Ladouceur in 2013. "In the close to 20 years I've coached we've seen some good ones. But he's definitely one of the best. Urban Meyer doesn't recruit you unless you're really, really good."
In his first season as head coach, Alumbaugh raved about current USC tackle Damian Mama who led Bosco during a gritty 20-14 win over De La Salle in the Open Championship.
Mama was well coached and aggressive, but Davis' takes it to another level.
"He's definitely a play-to-the-whistle finisher," Negro said. "He's a physical kid. He's got a complete nasty streak and that's why he's going to Ohio State."
Alumbaugh has watched endless film on Bosco and Davis, and sees exactly what Negro describes. And not a hint of dirty play either. Just aggressive.
"There's no cheap shots, nothing negative, he's just super physical to the whistle," Alumbaugh said. "He wants to grind. The only negative I can say about him is that he's going to Ohio State and not UCLA."
Alumbaugh is a UCLA alum.
Negro assures as aggressive as Davis is on the field, his personality off of it is quite gentle.
"He's a great kid," he said. "He's got a great personality. He's a very humble young man. For all his accolades and all the attention he gets, he treats everyone the exact same way. He's got a lot of levity. He's a ‘yes sir, no sir,' kid. He's one of those guys who comes around once or twice a career. We're very fortunate to have him as part of our program."
Though his grandpa doesn't make it to games any more — Willie Davis is 82 — he's still a great contributor.
Before SJB's 42-28 win over Mater Dei (Santa Ana) in the Southern Section Division I final two weeks ago, the former NFL great had Negro read a message.
"It was incredibly moving, private and inspirational," Negro said. "It sent a powerful message to the team and really sparked us."
Wyatt Davis (right) will play in his final high school game on Saturday night in Sacramento.
File photo by Rich Lawce
