Brady Davis
Quarterback / Illinois State
Alex Khvatov: What are your measurements (height, weight and forty time)?
Brady Davis: I am 6’3, weight is up to 218 and mid 4.7’s. I tore my ACL last year. I am six months into post-surgery. I feel faster and more athletic.
Alex Khvatov: How is your recovery process from the ACL injury?
Brady Davis: It is the second ACL injury that I suffered. I suffered the same injury at Memphis in 2016. It is easier the second time around. It has been a six-month recovery. I walked out of surgery. It has been a smooth recovery. Three months after surgery, I was able to do everything normally. The pandemic hit, I have been doing recovery the last two months on my own. I have been lifting and running myself. I will surprise some people. I have made great progress. I am coming back stronger. The doctor should clear me, and the trainer tells that I am ready to go. The last two months, I have been throwing, jumping and cutting.
Alex Khvatov: What can we expect from Illinois State this upcoming season?
Brady Davis: We have to answer the bell when our names are called. We were a young team in 2018. We progressed every year. We want to take down the Bison and play for the championship in Frisco. We also want to take down Illinois in week one. It is a big game for the community, and we want to pull out a win.
Alex Khvatov: Besides football, what other sports did you play in high school?
Brady Davis: I played on the basketball team in three of the four years. I played on the golf team the last couple of years. Our team was good. I wasn’t very good. We played in tournaments.
Alex Khvatov: When did you start playing QB?
Brady Davis: I didn’t play QB until middle school. I bought into it. I knew that I had a chance to be good. I started as a freshman in high school. I have been playing football since I was seven years old in Mississippi.
Alex Khvatov: Where did you get the name Brady? Were you named after Tom Brady?
Brady Davis: My older cousin called me Brady. It is the story that I hear. It has nothing to do with Tom Brady. I look up to the guy.
Alex Khvatov: Coming out of high school, what programs showed interest in you?
Brady Davis: I had a lot of schools. I had Cincinnati, Tulane, Louisiana Tech, and schools around Mississippi. I didn’t get to go to many camps. I should have gone to more camps. Oklahoma State came to watch me throw once. I went to a Mississippi State camp.
Alex Khvatov: Why did you choose Memphis?
Brady Davis: I committed to Memphis. I was a huge Memphis basketball fan. They won 10 games the year before. I liked coach Fuente and the QB coach. My dad grew up there. My dad graduated from Memphis.
Alex Khvatov: How would you describe your time with the Tigers?
Brady Davis: Coach Fuente left for VA Tech after the first season. Paxton Lynch moved on to the NFL. QB Riley Ferguson was brought in. He was actually at my wedding. He was pulling away from me in the QB competition during camp. It would have been him even if I didn’t tore my ACL during training. QB David Moore is one of my good friends. He was also in the QB room. He transferred to Western Michigan. Coach Norvell brought in Brady White. I was coming back from the injury. The coaching staff was leaning towards someone else for the future. It was time to go and seek a starting opportunity elsewhere. Memphis was a blessing. They had a great coaching staff. I built a relationship with some of my best friends there. It was a brotherhood. I love the program and the city. It was a fun locker room.
Alex Khvatov: Why did you transfer to Illinois State?
Brady Davis: I didn’t have too many options. I wanted to go to an FCS school. UT Martin and North Alabama showed interest. I knew a few coaches at North Alabama. My cousin and his wife live in Alabama. Coach Spack from Illinois State told me that they had a lot of guys drafted. He talked about winning the National Championship. We play against NDSU every year and the highest level of competition. I wanted to play in the best conference. I wanted to compete for a job. My wife supported my decision by going to Illinois State. Coach Fuente started his coaching career at Illinois State. He spoke very highly about the school. It was a great opportunity.
Alex Khvatov: You are a married man now. Talk about being that older statesman on the team.
Brady Davis: My wife was my high school sweetheart. She went to the University of Alabama, and I went to Memphis. She graduated from Alabama, and moved to Memphis with me. She has been my biggest supporter.
Alex Khvatov: Tell us about your career with the Redbirds.
Brady Davis: We haven’t accomplished what we set out yet. Personally, I haven’t accomplished huge numbers in college. I am a leader and a good teammate. I learned being a team captain and leader. I was relying on my brothers on how to run a team and have success. We found ways to win games this past season. We lost a few games. We lost to the Bison. I am excited for this year. The win total, and my numbers should go up.
Alex Khvatov: How honored were you to be named team captain this past year?
Brady Davis: I am an offensive captain. I have that natural ability. I never let anyone slack. It is an honor. I have a genuine relationship with everyone on the team. I hope that they will nominate me again this year. Luther Kirk was a two-time captain. I learned a lot from Luther.
Alex Khvatov: What are your strengths?
Brady Davis: I push the ball downfield. I have a strong arm. I throw the ball with touch. I give receivers a chance to make a play downfield. I have a pretty good sense to make people miss in the pocket. I have sneaky athletic ability. I have the ability to extend plays and my knowledge of the game. I have a great understanding of the game of football.
Alex Khvatov: What areas of your game are you trying to improve upon?
Brady Davis: It showed up last year. I tried to escape the pocket too much. I pressed too much to make big plays happen. I was in my own head. I should have stayed in the pocket and took the underneath throws. I should have worked the short area of the field.
Alex Khvatov: What is the highlight of your career up to this point?
Brady Davis: Being the starter is awesome. You go to work every day. During my first year at Illinois State, I went 18/23 for 300 yards and five TD’s against Eastern Illinois. The win against Colorado State. Beating South Dakota State on the road. It was a gritty win. It was memorable for me.
Alex Khvatov: What is the biggest lesson that you have taken away from your coaching staff?
Brady Davis: I love all of my coaches. They are good guys. I have played for three staffs. Illinois State coaches have an open door policy. They are genuinely good people. I have a good relationship with everyone. It is special. You don’t see that in many places.
Alex Khvatov: Who is your favorite NFL player?
Brady Davis: I liked Brett Favre growing up. I did the Manning camp last year. The Manning family showed great hospitality. I learned a lot from them that week at camp.
Alex Khvatov: Which QB do you try to model your game after?
Brady Davis: Favre and Rodgers. They are both gun slingers who push the ball downfield. Matthew Stafford, and my coaches wanted me to study 49ers Garoppolo and what he does in the pocket.
Alex Khvatov: Who is the best player that you have faced on an opposing team?
Brady Davis: Playing against DT Khalen Saunders in 2018. He is on the Chiefs now. In high school, it was Cam Akers. He was a QB. We had a duel game, 65-55. He is from Clinton, Mississippi. I went to Starkville high school. I played on the same team with Willie Gay and AJ Brown.
Alex Khvatov: What is the most important trait for a QB?
Brady Davis: Work ethic. You have to enjoy the process. You have to be a prepared guy. Bring a good attitude and consistency in everything.
Alex Khvatov: What do you enjoy most about football?
Brady Davis: Being with my teammates. The fierce competition. I enjoy practice, and the locker room.
Alex Khvatov: What are your hobbies?
Brady Davis: I have a couple of huskies. I play golf, video games, and I spend time with my wife. Her name is Michaela. Whatever she wants to do, I am down with it.
Alex Khvatov: What is your definition of a leader?
Brady Davis: A guy who will be able to show up and motivate others. Set the standard and show work ethic. A guy you can trust and listen to what he says. A leader has a voice. I am a talkative and goofy guy. I joke around and I will always go to work.
Alex Khvatov: What makes you unique?
Brady Davis: I bring energy and a positive attitude. My wife saw me when I am down and my family as well. I am never in a bad mood. I learned from my grandfather. I looked up to the guy. I am always smiling and giving good energy.
Alex Khvatov: What do you want to do with your life after your football career is over?
Brady Davis: I love the game. I want to stay in it. I want to be able to play for a while, but then I want to get into coaching. Train young QB’s and open up my own facility. I want to stay around sports and athletics. I graduated this past semester. My major was in recreational management. I decided not to go into grad school. I wanted to focus on my rehab. I took up political science as another major.
Alex Khvatov: What five words best describe you?
Brady Davis: Talkative, grinder, funny, Christian and competitive.
