Paving the Way

Malik Davis ’17 is on the threshold of history. The Jesuit High School running back is poised to break one of the most hallowed records in local prep sports annals.
After rushing for a season-high 228 yards in last week's 44-0 win over Sarasota, Davis now has 5,570 career rushing yards at Jesuit. With 196 more, he will surpass Clemson star Ray Ray McCloud, who rushed for 5,765 at Sickles High School, as the leading rusher in Hillsborough County history.
Davis also needs two rushing touchdowns to surpass former Armwood star Kalvin Bailey (67 rushing TDs), who played at Iowa, for the most rushing TDs in county history. If all goes well, Davis should break both records either Friday at home vs. Robinson, or next Friday (Oct. 21) at Spoto.
These are extraordinary achievements for Davis, who has led Jesuit to a 6-0 record and No. 2 state ranking this season. It is a testament to his ability, hard work, and perseverance. But football is the ultimate team sport, and Davis, as much as anyone, knows it and acknowledges it. In interview after interview, Davis immediately and graciously credits the relatively anonymous teammates who have blocked for him, play after play, for all 717 of his rushing attempts in four seasons at Jesuit.
This year, that includes the 10 players pictured surrounding Davis on the homepage (as well as injured fullback Ethan Dieck ’18), from L-R – OL Bradley Haines ’18, OL Mike Swenson ’17, OL Trey Ballehr ’18, TE Shane Eilers ’17, TE Donte Phillips ’17, (then Davis in the middle carrying the football), TE Larry Hodges ’19, FB Jackson Masters ’17, OL Chase Ventsam ’19, OL Anthony Seguiti ’18, and OL Jake Moore ’17.
In years past, several Jesuit blockers now playing in college helped pave the way for Davis to make his spectacular runs. In the fall of 2014, when Davis had a breakout season as a sophomore with 1,724 yards and 18 TDs, those blockers included three current college linemen, Jackson Dennis ’15 (Holy Cross), Clark Bulleit '15 (Duke), and Guy Revelle ’15 (Presbyterian), and a fourth, Nick Cox ’15, who is a long snapper at Penn State.
Last year, when Davis set school records for rushing yards in a game (357 vs Tampa Catholic), season (2,337), and career, (surpassing Will Glover ’99’s 3,865 rushing yards), as well as breaking Leonard George ’69’s single-season touchdown mark of 27 by scoring 28, his offensive line included Nick Battle ’16, Maddux Corish ’16, and Jordan Lassiter '16. Behind rugged blocking, Davis helped keep Jesuit winning - the Tigers went 13-1 last year and reached the state semifinal - and he kept ascending the ranks of greatest rushers in county history.
Below is a photo slideshow from Jesuit’s 44-0 win Saturday over Sarasota. Below that is a list of players who have blocked for Davis during his record-setting career, followed by a chart of Davis’ career rushing statistics.
Jesuit blockers for Malik Davis '17's record-setting career |
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2013 |
Mike Bell OL |
Clark Bulleit OL |
Nick Cox OL |
Jackson Dennis OL |
Patrick Powers OL |
Guy Revelle OL |
Michael Suarez OL |
Drew Paulsen TE |
Ryan Black FB |
Gage Holt FB |
2014 |
Mike Bell OL |
Clark Bulleit OL |
Jackson Dennis OL |
Jake Moore OL |
Guy Revelle OL |
Zach Virgadamo OL |
Rob Whitaker TE |
Nick Cox FB |
Luke Wichman FB |
2015 |
Nick Battle OL |
Maddux Corish OL |
Bradley Haines OL |
Jordan Lassiter OL |
Jake Moore OL |
Larry Hodges TE |
Donte Phillips TE |
Nick Rausch TE |
Ethan Dieck FB |
Luke Wichman FB |
2016 |
Trey Ballehr OL |
Bradley Haines OL |
Jake Moore OL |
Anthony Seguiti OL |
Michael Swenson OL |
Chase Ventsam OL |
Shane Eilers TE |
Larry Hodges TE |
Donte Phillips TE |
Ethan Dieck FB |
Jackson Masters FB |
Malik Davis '17 career rushing statistics |
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FRESHMAN 2013 (12 games) |
79 att - 495 yards - 6.3 avg - 4 TD |
SOPHOMORE 2014 (11 games) |
251 att - 1,724 yards - 6.9 avg - 18 TD |
JUNIOR 2015 (12 games) |
285 att - 2,337 yards - 8.2 avg - 28 TD |
SENIOR 2016 (6 games) |
102 att - 1,014 yards - 9.9 avg - 16 TD |
TOTAL (41 games) |
717 att - 5,570 yards - 7.8 avg - 66 TD |
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