Davis: Short in stature; big on talent

Just by looking at Dello Davis, you might not think he'd be Harper College's big-play threat.

But that is exactly what the 5-foot-6, 160-pound receiver from suburban St. Louis is for first-year head football coach Eric Waldstein. He calls Davis "pound for pound one of the toughest kids in the conference."

Davis earned all-Midwest Football Conference accolades during his freshman season. This year, he serves as one of the Hawks' tri-captains along with Pat Czerwiec and Blair Lane.

"He (Davis) was voted a team captain, and especially the last few weeks he has really stepped up his leadership role," Waldstein said. "He has done a good job keeping the guys together. He was the first one to step up (after the Joliet loss)."

Davis helped Kirkwood High School to the state title game as a junior and the playoffs as a senior. He also ran track as a relay specialist.

But because of subpar academics, Davis found himself without a place to play after high school.

"One of my high school coaches and I sat down and started looking at junior colleges in Iowa and Illinois," Davis said.

Enter former Harper coach Dragan Teonic.

"When we talked to him (Teonic), he just blew us away," Davis said.

But after the 2008 season, Teonic resigned and Waldstein was hired to be the Hawks' boss.

"We were really on the same page," said Davis of his former coach. "He (Teonic) really knew how to use his weapons."

The transition to a new coach and system is always a challenge, and that's been the case for Dello.

"Switching from one philosophy to another is tough," said Waldstein. "Last year's philosophy was throw the ball all over the yard. You can do that with a sophomore quarterback (such as last season's starter, All-American Garrett Barnas).

"He is a good kid, he has matured," Waldstein said of his leading pass catcher. "We try to get Dello the ball as much as we can. Everybody knows who you are and where you're at when you're a playmaker."

"For as small as he is it gives you visions of a Barry Sanders-type guy. He makes moves that 95 percent of the guys on the field can not make. I would like to have a few more of him on the team."