Training Camp Confidential: Davison eager to start own season
August 11, 2018 | Football, Men's Basketball, Mike Lucas
Finishing up basketball rehab, Badgers guard enjoys day at football practice
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BY MIKE LUCAS
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer
His other element.
Davison, the second-leading scorer on Wisconsin's basketball team last season, was a visitor Friday at Camp Randall Stadium.
And he couldn't stop grinning.
"I miss the competition," he said with a sigh.
After the practice, Davison, the former Maple Grove (Minnesota) High School quarterback, exchanged pleasantries at midfield with D'Cota Dixon, Scott Nelson and Jonathan Taylor.
Davison has many friends on the football team with Nelson topping the list. Last year, they lived in the same dorm as freshmen and they started hanging out together.
"He became one of my closest friends," said Nelson, a Detroit native, and the likely starter at safety alongside Dixon, a fifth-year senior. "It didn't matter that we were in different sports.
"We were kind of on the same page with everything and that was really cool."
Davison first met Dixon and Nelson at a bible study with Athletes in Action. Davison and Nelson (who's coming off a redshirt) gravitated towards each other because they're in the same class.
"We grew a really great bond," said Davison. "We're always talking, whether it's about football, life, faith, or basketball. I'm excited to watch him get after it this year."
Nelson played on a Class A state championship basketball team during his junior year at Detroit Jesuit High School, whose star, Cassius Winston, is now the starting point guard at Michigan State.
While watching Davison play for the Badgers last season, Nelson grimaced at times knowing the pain that Davison was enduring from a dislocated shoulder that would frequently pop out of joint.
"I know it was really difficult for him sometimes," said Nelson, who was a sounding board if needed. "But I saw what kind of person he truly is. In times of adversity, he's a natural leader."
No @BadgerFootball, you can't have him. (At least not for 3 more years anyway)
— Wisconsin Basketball (@BadgerMBB) August 10, 2018
Nelson knows that leadership extended to the football field, too. He has seen some high school highlights, albeit short clips, of Davison throwing the ball.
"He could spin it," Nelson said. "He's a great athlete."
As a prep senior, Davison completed 63 percent of his passes for 2,418 yards and 23 touchdowns. After leading Maple Grove to an 8-3 record, he was the 2016 All-Metro Player of the Year.
During Friday's practice, Davison got excited over a passing drill, especially after quarterback Alex Hornibrook unleased a perfect throw in the end zone to A. J. Taylor who had beaten his man.
"When I played," Davison said, "I absolutely loved doing one-on-ones. This was my favorite drill. It's really man vs. man (receiver vs. defensive back).
"You're talking smack and there were no excuses. You just had to do it. If you completed a pass, you'd tell them about it. And if you didn't, they'd tell you about it. Every rep was a competition."
If you're wondering, yes, Davison is well aware of the Greg Paulus narrative. Paulus played four seasons of basketball at Duke and then he used his fifth year to play football at Syracuse.
Paulus was the starting quarterback for the Orange in 2009.
"Have I thought about it? Yeah, because a lot of people have asked me about it," Davison said. "It's something fun to think about simply because I miss football a lot.
"But, realistically, I don't know if I've really thought about doing it. Maybe it might cross my mind three years from now. Right now, all I'm worried about is getting to play basketball again.
"It has been a long time coming."
How long?
"It's day 159 since surgery," Davison said Friday.
He knows that for a fact?
"I do a prayer book, so I have all the days tallied," said Davison, who underwent surgery on his left shoulder on March 5. "It feels really, really good.
"I'm back doing everything with the team except contact. I'm shooting, dribbling, lifting — I'm doing everything except actually playing against a defense. That will come later.
"They're being very patient; they don't want to rush me back. Especially at this time of the year. Coach (Greg) Gard keeps saying, 'We're not going to win a championship in August or September.'"
Davison rotated his left arm above his shoulder. Full range of motion.
"During the year, I was probably like that," he said, swinging his arm half-way.
"But I've got it all back now; it's a big step. I just need to build all my strength back."
There was one meaningful turning point during his rehab.
"Once I got out of my sling for good," he said, "I really started getting more confidence with my shoulder because then I could start to do things again that I wasn't able to do during the season."
Every day types of things. Easy to take for granted types of things.
"Like sleeping properly," he said. "I usually sleep on my left shoulder which I couldn't do all season, so I really struggled.
"When I got my sling off, it was a big step for me because I could start being me again. And then once they let me shoot with two hands again, I kind of got back to being who I was."
Two of Davison's teammates, D'Mitrik Trice and Kobe King, are also back up to speed physically after taking medical redshirts last season.
"I'm really proud about the way they attacked their rehab and the weight room," Davison said. "They look good, they feel good. Now it's just getting that confidence back of playing with all the guys."
Cut above the rest 💪 #ForTheCulture #OnWisconsin
— Wisconsin Basketball (@BadgerMBB) August 9, 2018
The backcourt pool looks deep.
"Now we have so much depth and that's a great problem to have," said Davison. "Coach has a lot of guys to pick from depending on the game and situation.
"Not only that, it raises the competition level whether in an open gym, practice or the weight room. We're always competing.
"And it's not necessarily that we're competing for spots. It's more that we're competing to make each other better and ourselves better."
Davison expects Ethan Happ's return for his final year of eligibility to pay big dividends in making the Badgers a much better team than they were last season.
"Not a lot of guys have the opportunity to come back," he said, "and potentially be the Player of the Year and lead his team to a Big Ten title and a Final Four — which is what we're all aiming for.
"We're happy to have Ethan back. We know that he's happy to be back. The team has really swarmed around him. We always say, 'For the Culture.' We're a lot closer-knit this year."
During Friday's practice, it was pointed out to Davison that the quarterbacks were wearing black jerseys and injured players were wearing yellow signifying that they were off-limits for contact.
Might he be a candidate for such a jersey? He laughed and noted that Gard has constantly teased him this summer about putting him in pink for basketball practices this fall and winter.
"He knows once he lets me play full-go," he said, grinning, "I'll be playing as hard as I can."
And he will be back to being "me again" — the only way he knows how to play.
