No stopping Washington’s Davis: Senior fulfills dream with commitment to NCWC

Published 6:56 pm Friday, February 14, 2025

By Jason O. Boyd

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Gabe Davis’ football motor runs at full speed. While he may not be the biggest football player, he makes up for it with talent and a never-quit attitude.

Those qualities were enough to get him a college football future. The Washington High School senior will play for North Carolina Wesleyan this fall after making his commitment official on Monday.

Family, friends, teammates and even former Washington football coach Matt Taylor came to see the talented and personable senior make it all official.

After starting for four years at Washington and displaying his skills in the 252 vs. 919 Showcase in January, the Pam Pack’s defensive player of the year is set to keep that momentum going at the college level.

“He had other options, and he could have opened it up,” said Taylor, who was also an assistant coach for the 252 team. “But Wesleyan did a great job of recruiting him and making him feel at home, and he had a good feeling there.

“And look, Gabe Davis, he’s the pedigree of what you want to coach in high school, and he’s going to be successful no matter what he does. Because of his work ethic, because of the importance that he places on his values, and everything that he does, he’s going to be successful. So I couldn’t be happier.”

Davis said Wesleyan had had an interest in him for a while. He was glad they extended the opportunity for him to continue to play football.

“I’ve had a lot of communication with them. But after the 252 game, we went on a visit there to tour, and they invited me out, and that’s when they offered me,” Davis said.

“I had another offer from a school out west, but I wasn’t really interested in it. And after the 252 game, when they offered me, I just knew it was right. And after that visit, I came in, and I knew it was the right spot.”

Davis acknowledges he’s smaller in size than most who play linebacker, standing at 5-foot-8 and around 205 pounds. However, it’s hard for anyone to match the drive and pursuit he has. He displayed that a lot during the 252 vs. 919 Showcase, playing linebacker, running on special teams and even snapping on punts.

“It’s really exciting because at least for me, at the linebacker position, I’m smaller. I’m short for a linebacker. And I could have played a D-II (school) or walked on to a D-I, and I would have just sat,” Davis said.

“But I know at Wesleyan, it’s a smaller school, but I know I’ll have the opportunity to go out and play and potentially shine there. So I’m really excited about it, knowing that I can actually go play.”

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