by Lee Brecheen
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| Torshiro Davis |
August 1, 2011 - Woodlawn High School has some big time tradition when it comes to players that have come out of the school over the years like QB Joe Ferguson (Louisiana Tech and Buffalo Bills from 1973 to 1984) and Super Bowl MVP and NFL Hall of Famer QB Terry Bradshaw of the Pittsburgh Steelers who played from 1970 to 1983 and won four NFL Super Bowls while in the NFL (1974, 1975, 1978, and 1979).
It’s been a long time since Woodlawn High School has had a big time player for DI football. The last DI player to come out was Dennis Morris five years ago who signed as a LB/DE to Louisiana Tech as a sleeper player and ended up an All Conference TE at 6-3, 251 pounds. Dennis is currently with the San Diego Chargers in the NFL.
The last highly recruited player to come out of Woodlawn High School in Shreveport was LB/DE James Gillyard who played QB for then head coach Dennis Dunn and went on to become a All SEC player for the LSU Tigers. James Gillyard was formerly the Head Football Coach at Hammond High School.
That brings us to the current 2012 Recruiting Class with LB/DE Torshiro Davis from Woodlawn High School in Shreveport, Louisiana. In my opinion Torshiro Davis is the best recruit to come out since James Gillyard as far as his upside and what he will be able to do at the next level.
Torshiro Davis, like former Woodlawn player James Gillyard, has speed running a 4.54/40 at 6-3, 230 pounds, and he will play at about 239 to 240 by the start of the season as a Defensive End. I filmed this kid in 2009 and 2010, and I came away impressed with how quick he is off the snap and his ability to run down running backs in the open field and make it look easy. Davis will be the best in college at 250 to 260 when he’s done filling out as a Defensive End, or he can move to LB and play at 235 to 240 and probably still run a 4.6/40. I don’t think this kid has even scratched his full potential yet for college as a player.
His High School team needs him as a Defensive End because of his size and speed outside, but it would be fun to see him as a Linebacker which might be something that might happen once he gets to college.
Once this kid gets in a college weight room year around and works to get up to 255 to 260 without losing speed, he could be a big time pass rusher in college at LSU where he’s currently committed to play football.
If you want to read more about Davis and the team in depth, be sure to order our upcoming 2011 Preview Issue of Louisiana Football Magazine which will be ready for shipping next week.
I hope you enjoy the interview below written by Mark Clements.
Interview by Mark Clements
LAFM: For starters, what’s your current height, weight and forty time?
TD: My forty time is 4.54, I’m 225-230 and 6’3”.
LAFM: Are you originally from Louisiana?
TD: Yeah, I grew up in Shreveport.
LAFM: Which teams did you root for growing up?
TD: At the time growing up, I really wasn’t looking at college teams. I was really spending most of my time watching the NFL. I followed the New Orleans Saints.
LAFM: When did you first start playing football?
TD: My fourth grade year.
LAFM: Has it always been a big part of your family? Have you had any family members who played football in the past?
TD: Yeah, everybody in my family played either football or basketball except like two or three of them.
LAFM: Any of them play in college or the pros?
TD: I had an uncle play in college. I’m not sure which school he played. I had a cousin who also played in college and he went to Iowa State.
LAFM: Well, you mentioned basketball was a big deal in your family, do you play any other sports?
TD: Yeah, basketball and I run track.
LAFM: What position do you play in basketball? And what events do you run in track?
TD: Small forward or power forward. I run 4x1, 4x2, the 200 and they’re trying to put me on the 4x4.
LAFM: Do you play any other positions besides defensive end or linebacker?
TD: A little tight end but not too much. And sometimes fullback like on goal line formation.
LAFM: Is there anyone in college or the Pros that you try to model your game after?
TD: DeMarcus Ware for the Dallas Cowboys. Basically wherever he is on the field, he poses a threat to the offense.
LAFM: What do you think is your biggest strength as a player and what part of your game are you trying to improve upon most next year?
TD: I really want to be able to go out and cover a slot receiver a bit better than what I’m doing and get better at playing in space and making myself a little more versatile. My biggest strength is my speed.No doubt, my speed.
LAFM: Have you been to any camps at this point? If so, which ones?
TD: I just recently went to LSU camp and before that was Texas camp, Alabama camp and Mississippi State camp.
LAFM: How many offers do you currently have right now?
TD: I asked my coach that and he told me I’d probably be mad at him because there are so many offers that I have that he has never told me about. So right now I really don’t even know.
LAFM: I know you’re committed to LSU. Are they still the front-runner? And what other schools are making a push for you?
TD: LSU is still at the top. Texas and Alabama are right there behind LSU.
LAFM: Have you thought about what you might want to study in college?
TD: I want to be a coach so I’ll probably go into education.
LAFM: What are some goals you’ve set for next season, for yourself and for the team?
TD: Just really to get better. We just go off our saying, “Trust God and go hard.”
LAFM: Which school is your favorite to play against, or which game gets you the most fired up each year?
TD: I just like playing against whoever is supposed to be the hot team this year. I really just want to play against competition.
LAFM: What are some of the most memorable games or plays you’ve been a part of?
TD: Yeah for our homecoming. It was our first time to win a homecoming game in like five years I believe. We beat the team 54-14 for homecoming.
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