Former Auburn and Vigor star Deshaun Davis is close to returning to his high school alma mater.
Davis, an All-State linebacker in high school, announced on social media that he would be the Wolves’ defensive coordinator next fall. Vigor coach John McKenzie confirmed Wednesday morning that Davis was his first choice as defensive coordinator, though the move must still be approved to the Mobile County Board of Education.
If all goes through, Davis would replace Renardo Jackson, who left to take the head coaching job at LeFlore.
“He brings a lot of energy,” McKenzie said. “Deshaun is a young, exciting guy. A lot of young people don’t like responsibility, but I think he thrives on it. He’s a young and up and coming guy that has some great experience at Thompson High, so he’s been around a great program. We are just trying to build on the tradition and the legacy of Vigor High School, and he is a big part of that already.”
Davis led the Wolves to the Class 5A championship game as a sophomore in 2008 and had a second-consecutive All-State season as a junior. However, he missed his senior season with a torn ACL.
He went on to sign with Auburn and become an All-SEC linebacker.
“Honestly, I’m extremely excited,” Davis told AL.com on Wednesday. “When I talked to coach McKenzie and Mr. (Gerald) Cunningham (principal) to lay a foundation, it was surreal then. Yesterday, after the emotional announcement and seeing the support and the love from the people in the community and people following my career, that made it more special. It made me feel even more welcome. I haven’t been walking the hallways at Vigor in long time. I graduated in 2014. Just to get around my people and my community and impact those guys day after day -- that is what I’m most excited about.”
Davis racked up 266 tackles during his four-year Auburn career, including 261 over his last three years as a starter. In 2018, he became the first Auburn linebacker since 2004 to earn first-team All-SEC honors after he made a team-best 116 tackles, including 15 for a loss.
He accepted an invitation to the Reese’s Senior Bowl following his final year at Auburn. Davis played briefly for three NFL teams in 2019 -- Philadelphia, Cincinnati and Jacksonville -- and in the CFL for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Davis spent the 2021 season coaching freshmen at Thompson High School while recovering from surgery.
He said the door is “75 to 80 percent” closed on his playing career at this point.
“Honestly, my reality is more serious than my dream,” he said. “I’m about to be 26 on Friday and, in the NFL, that is almost too old. They start trying to line up guys to replace you. I did have a few opportunities last season, but I wasn’t able to perform due to surgery. Now, it’s to the point where I can’t keep waiting on other people. I need something set in stone.
“Thinking about it today -- If I don’t get another call from an NFL team, I’ve still done everything I set out to do. I was an All-State player in high school. I signed with an SEC school. People said I wasn’t big enough to be a linebacker in college. I was blessed to be an All-SEC guy. I played in the NFL. I did everything I set for myself to do. Now it’s time to give back.”
Though he is just starting in the coaching business, Davis said he learned a lot from head coach Mark Freeman and the staff at Thompson this fall.
“To me, they are the Alabama of high school football. It’s a true dynasty,” Davis said. “It’s not just football on the field. It’s a structured environment they’ve created to succeed. Coach Freeman does an outstanding job with those guys, but it’s also the entire staff at the school. Everyone in that building walks in greatness. Everyone has high expectations.
“I played against coach Freeman when I was in high school when he was at Spanish Fort and Gulf Shores. I always wondered what the inside scoop was to the success they had. It’s two things. There is love in his program and God is in his programs. It’s a God-driven team. They all know there is a higher power and believe in Him. And they show the players love.”
At Vigor, Davis will inherit a defense that limited opponents to 12 points a game during a 14-1, Class 4A state championship season.
He will have some talented starters returning, including 4A Lineman of the Year finalist Michael Towner.
Ad Choices