Mississippi
How Wyatt Davis has helped build a platform for Mississippi’s high school quarterbacks
Wyatt Davis speaks about his 601 Elite quarterback camp
Quarterback coach Wyatt Davis discusses his 601 Elite QB camp at Southern Miss.
David Eckert, Hattiesburg American
Even earlier than his highschool commencement from Pearl River Central in 2017, Wyatt Davis was working with quarterbacks.
What started as a method to give again to his neighborhood has developed right into a career. Final Saturday, Davis made his greatest transfer but, arranging a camp for the most effective Mississippi quarterback expertise at Southern Miss’ M.M. Roberts Stadium.
Dubbed the “601 Elite Quarterback Massive 40,” the occasion’s roster featured 53 quarterbacks in whole and 43 from the state of Mississippi, starting from junior faculty gamers all the best way right down to the Class of 2028.
“After I was coming via the ranks, we by no means had one thing like this,” Davis mentioned. “… It is large for them. It is a blessing.”
In his function as a personal quarterback coach, Davis has taken it upon himself to advertise the expertise within the Magnolia State.
Saturday’s camp befell throughout a recruiting lifeless interval mandated by the NCAA, which meant faculty coaches weren’t permitted to attend. However it gave the quarterbacks who participated a chance to compete in entrance of staffers for recruiting providers like Rivals and 247Sports, publicity that might show important within the recruiting course of.
These alternatives are plentiful for quarterbacks in different elements of the nation. Davis seen Saturday’s camp as a chance to offer the same platform for Mississippi’s expertise.
“He actually thinks that quarterbacks in Mississippi and expertise general in Mississippi are actually neglected,” mentioned Madison-Ridgeland Academy’s John White, a Southern Miss commit. “He is doing his greatest to place us on the map.”
To Davis, meaning making a narrative, as different, talent-rich states have performed.
His aim, in the end, is to assist ship extra Mississippi quarterbacks to the elite stage of the school sport.
“We’ve the expertise right here,” Davis mentioned. “… We’re not identified for simply linemen. We have guys all the best way throughout.”
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Davis has performed a big function within the improvement of most of the prospects who attended Saturday’s camp, estimating that he works with about 85% of the attendees regularly.
Petal quarterback Deljay Bailey has identified Davis for years via his father, former Southern Miss defensive again CJ Bailey.
“I’ve seen him develop and turn into what he’s now, which is a good mentor,” Bailey mentioned.
Bailey, a three-star Class of 2023 prospect who holds a proposal from the Golden Eagles, works out with Davis now and again, and believes these periods have positively improved his sport.
“They’re very energetic, very enjoyable,” Bailey mentioned. “We do some completely different stuff each time, very dynamic throws, getting out of the pocket.”
Davis defined that he constructions his periods that method to put together his pupils for each state of affairs they might doubtlessly face.
“On the finish of the day it’s in regards to the work,” Davis mentioned. “There’s no hype or something about it, it’s in regards to the work you set in. That’s what this has been constructed off of.”
Attain Southern Miss author David Eckert at deckert@gannett.com or on Twitter @davideckert98.