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Category: Sports

Three Chiefs selected to NFL Pro Bowl

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Football League announced on Tuesday that three members of the Kansas City Chiefs have been selected to participate in the 2018 NFL Pro Bowl. The below players have earned a spot on the AFC’s Pro Bowl roster:

Tyreek Hill (Returner) – 2nd Nomination
Kareem Hunt (Running Back) – 1st Nomination
Travis Kelce (Tight End) – 3rd Nomination

The 2018 Pro Bowl will return to Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida, and will be televised on ESPN and ESPN Deportes and simulcast on ABC. This year’s game will mark the first time the Pro Bowl will air on both broadcast and cable networks, as well as being streamed live on the ESPN app. The NFL is the only sports league that combines voting by fans, coaches and players to determine its all-star teams.

Hill (5-10, 185) has played in all 14 games (12 starts) this season, tallying 24 punt returns for 203 yards (8.5 avg.) with one touchdown. Offensively, Hill has recorded 69 receptions for 1,074 yards (15.6 avg.) with seven touchdowns. Hill became the 12th player in Chiefs history to notch 1,000 or more yards receiving in a single season. He ranks second among all NFL receivers in overall touchdowns after Week 7 of the 2016 season.

This marks Hill’s second consecutive selection into the NFL’s all-star game. The Pearson, Georgia, native, played collegiately at West Alabama. He was selected by Kansas City in the fifth round (165th overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft.

Hunt (5-11, 216) has started all 14 games for the Chiefs during his rookie season, tallying 1,641 scrimmage yards (1,201 rushing yards and 440 receiving yards) with nine touchdowns. In Week 3 of the season, Hunt became the first player in NFL history to record a 50+ yard scrimmage touchdown in each of his first three career games. During Week 14, he rushed for 116 yards becoming just the second rookie in franchise history to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark. He is currently the franchise’s all-time leading rookie rusher.

The Willoughby, Ohio, native, played collegiately at Toledo where he finished his career as the school’s all-time leading rusher, totaling 4,945 yards on 782 rushes (6.3 avg.) with 44 touchdowns. He originally entered the NFL as a third-round pick (86th overall) by the Chiefs in the 2017 NFL Draft.

Kelce (6-5, 260) has started at tight end in all 14 games this season, tallying 79 catches for 991 yards (12.5 avg.) with seven touchdowns. This season Kelce has recorded four 100+ yard receiving games and set a career-high in receiving touchdowns (7). He caught a touchdown in three-straight games from Weeks 7-9 and logged his second career two-touchdown game against the Jets. Kelce owns 303 receptions for 3,853 yards (12.7 avg.) with 21 touchdowns for his career. He has now caught a pass in 62 straight games, ranking as the third-best streak in team history.

This marks Kelce’s third consecutive selection into the NFL’s all-star game. A native of Cleveland Heights, Ohio, Kelce was selected by Kansas City in the third round (63rd overall) in the 2013 NFL Draft.

— Chiefs Media Relations —

Missouri State defeats Wright State Tuesday 66-50

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SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — Obediah Church scored 13 points and blocked three shots, Alize Johnson added 12 points with 14 rebounds for his seventh double-double of the season, and Missouri State held off a second-half Wright State run to win 66-50 on Tuesday night.

Trailing by 18 at halftime, the Raiders closed to within 53-48 after Hall capped a 12-4 run with 3-pointer with 7:51 to play. But Church scored four straight to spark a 13-2 run that included his dunk with 1:31 left and the Bears won going away.

Jarrid Rhodes scored 12 points with three 3s for Missouri State (10-3), which has won eight of its last nine games.

Ryan Kreklow’s 3 sparked a 20-4 run capped by Church’s dunk and the Bears led 34-16 at halftime.

Justin Mitchell scored 18 points and Jaylon Hall added 10 for the Raiders (7-5), which saw its three-game win streak end.

— Associated Press —

Northwest women fall short at McKendree for ninth straight loss

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By David Boyce – Northwest Athletics

LEBANON, Ill. – A basket by freshmen Mallory McConkey midway through the fourth quarter pulled Northwest Missouri State’s women’s basketball team into a 63-63 tie against McKendree Monday evening at Harry Statham Sports Center.

A three-point answer by McKendree put a damper on the rest of the game for the Bearcats. Northwest managed just two more points and that led to a 72-65 loss.

“I thought at times our effort was very good,” Northwest coach Buck Scheel said. “We were able to push the ball up the floor and get some good transition buckets.

“But then we turn around and have a couple of turnovers here and there and took some bad shots. Those little things add up.”

The Bearcats gave a gritty effort on the road. Northwest trailed 59-53 early in the fourth quarter and fought back, scoring eight of the next 10 points.

During the 8-2 run, Northwest got baskets from junior Maria Dentlinger, a three-pointer from freshman Jaelyn Haggard and a three-pointer from junior Kaylani Maiava that made it 61-61 with 5:25 left in the game.

Unfortunately, the nice offensive flow the Bearcats showed in the first half and much of the third quarter left Northwest in the final 4 minutes.

In the third quarter, Northwest and McKendree went back and forth. McKendree took a 37-36 lead to start the second half. Northwest went right back in front on a four-point play by junior Mallory McAndrews that put the Bearcats ahead 40-37.

The rest of the third quarter went exactly like that. There were 13 lead changes in the third quarter. But when the quarter ended, McKendree held a 57-53 lead.

The first half was similar except Northwest did build a nine-point lead early in the second quarter but let it slip away.

Still, Northwest put together its best first half on the road and took a slim 36-35 lead into halftime. The Bearcats did numerous things right to gain the slight advantage.

“One of the things I talked about first in the locker room after the game is when that effort is there and there all the time, good things can happen.”

Junior Macy Williams provided a big spark midway through the first quarter when Northwest fell behind 10-4. Consecutive field goals by Williams quickly pulled Northwest to within two points.

Trailing 19-17 late in the first quarter, Williams drilled a three-pointer that gave the Bearcats their first lead at 20-19. It was Williams’ ninth point in the first quarter.

Williams finished the first quarter with an assist that set up a three-point bucket by senior Mia Stillman. The trey sent the Bearcats into the second quarter with a 23-19 lead.

Northwest continued to ride the momentum. Senior Tanya Meyer drained a three-pointer and freshman Kylie Coleman stole a pass and drove the length of the court for a layup, giving the Bearcats a 28-19 lead and forcing a timeout by McKendree.

McKendree regrouped from the Bearcats’ 14-1 run and slowly pulled closer. McKendree eventually retook the lead at 33-32.

Undaunted by the lead change, Northwest answered with a basket by Haggard and solidified the lead when Haggard made a nice bounce pass that led to a Stillman layup.

The strong passing by the Bearcats helped them shoot 56 percent from the field in the first half.

“Tonight, throughout the game, I was very pleased with our effort,” Scheel said.

— Northwest Athletics —

No. 14 Kansas rolls past Omaha 109-64

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LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Svi Mykhailiuk struggled to get his shot to drop for three straight games, two of them losses and a third that easily could have been had the Kansas sharpshooter missed one more 3-pointer.

Instead, Mykhailiuk hit the shot to beat Nebraska.

He kept hitting them against Omaha.

Mykhailiuk knocked down six more 3s and poured in 26 points, Devonte Graham added 17 points and the No. 14 Jayhawks rolled to a 109-64 victory over the Mavericks on Monday night.

“Everybody has bad games. Everybody has good games,” Mykhailiuk said. “The last three games I didn’t shoot it well. Today I did shoot it well. That’s basketball, up and down.”

Lagerald Vick added 15 points and Malik Newman had 14 for the Jayhawks (9-2), who enjoyed a breather after gritting out a win over Syracuse and dropping back-to-back games to Washington and Arizona State.

But it was Mykhailiuk who got the offense going. He was 6 of 7 from beyond the arc, 10 of 13 from the field and added four rebounds and four assists to fill his stat line.

“He can play off a screen, spot up, drive it,” Omaha coach Derrin Hansen said. “When he gets his feet set, he not only makes them, it’s like, in-the-middle makes them. He’s hard to guard.”

Daniel Norl had 13 points and Zach Jackson had 10 to lead Omaha, which went 9 for 28 from beyond the arc, shot 33 percent from the field and was outrebounded 49-26 by the Jayhawks.

“I think we were just a little overwhelmed,” the Mavericks’ Matt Pile said.

The Jayhawks toyed with Omaha throughout much of the first half, but their hot outside shooting and massive size advantage in the paint allowed them to easily draw away.

Arizona State transfer Sam Cunliffe, who became eligible after the fall semester and was playing his first game in Allen Fieldhouse, started the first big surge by knocking down a 3 late in the first half.

Mykhailiuk and Graham added 3s and the Jayhawks took an 11-0 run into the break.

Cunliffe also had a couple of nifty alley-oop dunks, leaping up to spear the ball with one hand for his first points with the Jayhawks. He finished with nine points in 19 minutes.

“To be honest with you, I kind of imagined it being a 3, the first one, but I always knew if I got out and ran, someone would throw it,” he said. “Devonte happened to throw it.”

It didn’t help the Mavericks’ cause that they rely on an up-and-down style predicated on 3s, one that plays right into the Jayhawks’ hands. Their superior speed and talent showed as the Jayhawks hit the 100-point mark before the final media timeout, allowing them to empty the bench.

Even walk-on James Sosinski got into the game. The tight end was plucked from the Kansas football team to provide depth in practice, and he wound up scoring four points in the final minutes.

“I would like for us to put the clamps on somebody and we still haven’t done that,” Kansas coach Bill Self said. “But we’ve played consistently well this year except for back-to-back games, a four-day stretch where we weren’t very good. Other than that we played consistently well.”

STATS AND STREAKS

Udoka Azubuike had 11 points and 12 rebounds in 22 minutes for Kansas. The nation’s field-goal percentage leader was 5 of 7 from the floor. … The Mavericks were facing their highest-ranked opponent in their Division I era. … Vick also had nine rebounds. … Omaha was outscored 21-7 on the break.

BIG PICTURE

Omaha faced its fourth opponent that was ranked or currently resides in the Top 25, though that’s only part of a difficult schedule. The Mavericks also played on the road for the 11th time in 14 games.

Kansas has done just fine against members of the Summit League, beating South Dakota State earlier this season. Now the Jayhawks need to prove they can beat someone from the Pac-12. They lost to Oregon in last year’s NCAA Tournament, and to the Huskies and Sun Devils this season. Stanford is next.

UP NEXT

Omaha plays Montana State on Thursday night, its fourth game in nine days.

Kansas plays the Cardinal on Thursday night in Sacramento, California.

— Associated Press —

No. 16 Tigers top Xavier women 74-48 for 11th straight win

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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Sophie Cunningham scored 20 points, Cierra Porter had her 17th career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, and No. 16 Missouri won its 11th straight with a 74-48 victory over Xavier on Monday at the West Palm Invitational.

It’s Mizzou’s longest winning streak since 13 consecutive victories to open the 2015-16 season.

Porter’s block on Xavier’s last possession of the first half started a Missouri fast break and Jordan Chavis hit a 3-pointer just before the buzzer to give the Tigers a 39-27 lead. Chavis scored all nine of her points in the first half and Porter added six points and six rebounds.

Lauren Aldridge’s no-look pass to Jordan Frericks under the basket made it 53-34 midway through the third quarter and Missouri cruised in the fourth.

Aldridge and Frericks each added 10 points for Missouri (11-1), which lost to Western Kentucky 79-76 in the season opener. In the last three games, Cunningham has combined to score 74 points, on just 34 shots, in 75 minutes. Cunningham was also 13 of 21 from 3-point range during the span.

Freshman Deja Ross led Xavier (6-4) with three 3-pointers and 13 points.

— Associated Press —

K-State women defeat winless Chicago State by 48

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MANHATTAN, Kansas – Playing its second game in three days, Kansas State showed no signs of strain as the Wildcats scored a season-high 99 points to defeat Chicago State, 99-51. The 99 points were the most since K-State scored 102 against Florida Atlantic on Dec. 13, 2015.

Kansas State (8-2) had three players reach double figures, as freshman Rachel Ranke scored a career-high 24 points and buried a career-best seven 3-pointers in 23 minutes off the bench. Ranke is the first Wildcat to make seven or more 3-pointers in a game since Brittany Chambers knocked down nine against Texas Southern on March 21, 2013.

Joining Ranke’s effort was equaled by junior Kayla Goth and sophomore Peyton Williams, as each notched a double-double. Goth tallied 19 points, a career-high 11 assists, five rebounds, four steals and a block. Goth is the first K-State player with 10 or more assists in three or more games since Shalee Lehning in the 2008-09 season.

Williams tallied her third career double-double and her second this season with 15 points and 10 rebounds while also handing out three assists. Williams has surpassed double figures in points in four of K-State’s last five games.

Chicago State (0-13) was led by Tyeshia Bowers with 15 points.

For the night, K-State shot 49.3 percent from the field (34-of-69), while carding a 11-of-28 effort from beyond the arc. The 11 connections from beyond the arc are the second-highest total this season for K-State, as the Wildcats knocked down 12 against Omaha on Nov. 13.

Kansas State spanned the first and second quarters with a 13-2 run to establish a 31-12 lead with 7:26 remaining in the first half. During the opening quarter, senior guard Karyla Middlebrook made her season debut and tallied three points in the first frame. Middlebrook finished the night with five points, two rebounds, one assist and one steal in 13 minutes.

K-State held a 51-21 lead at the half, as Ranke connected on a pair of 3-point field goals in the final minute to send the Wildcats to their largest lead of the opening half. The 51 first half points were a season high and marked the most since K-State scored 51 against West Virginia on January 1, 2017.

The Wildcats shot 53.1 percent (17-of-32) from the field in the opening half and were boosted by a 21-2 edge in points off turnovers. This is the fifth game this season K-State has scored 20 or more points off opponent turnovers.

K-State was led in the opening half by Ranke and Goth with 15 and 13 points, respectively. Goth added five assists, four rebounds and three steals to her first half stat line. All nine Wildcats that played in the first half registered at least two points.

The Wildcats would hold off the Cougars in the third quarter, 19-16, for a 70-37 lead after three. Williams and Shaelyn Martin combined to score 16 of K-State’s points in the third quarter, as Williams tallied nine and Martin added seven.

Martin finished the night with nine points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals. With her four assists, Martin improved her career total to 347 and is tied for ninth in program history for career assists with Carlisa Thomas (1983-87).

In the fourth quarter, K-State scored a season-high 29 points by shooting 61.1 percent in the final stanza. The Wildcats were 4-of-5 from beyond the arc in the final quarter, as Ranke connected on three attempts and Goth added the fourth.

Kansas State concludes the non-conference portion of its schedule on Thursday, as the Wildcats host Northern Iowa at 7 p.m.

— K-State Athletics —

Kansas women lose in OT at St. John’s

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For first time this season, Kansas women’s basketball needed overtime to decide the outcome of its first road contest after a last second shot was a 10th of a second too late. After 14 lead changes in 45 minutes, St. John’s finished on top, downing Kansas, 65-53, on Monday night inside Carnesecca Arena.

After a last-second bucket by junior forward Austin Richardson was waved off by the officials, the game was sent into an extra period after the Red Storm (7-3) tied the game in the final seconds of regulation. Following Richardson’s near game-winning shot, the Jayhawks’ (8-2) offense went cold and didn’t get a field goal to fall in overtime, as St. John’s outscored Kansas 14-2 in added time.

The Jayhawks were led by junior guards Brianna Osorio and Christalah Lyons who netted 14 and 12 points, respectively. Lyon’s 12 points notches the ninth time this season the Dallas, Texas native scored in double figures.

Junior center Chelsea Lott and senior guard Eboni Watts each notched career-high scoring and rebounding performances. Lott netted four points and grabbed five rebounds, while Watts scored five points and brought down six boards.

St. John’s was led by four players who scored 10 points or more. Junior guard Akina Wllere led all scorers with 18 points, five rebounds and four assists. Senior forward Maya Singleton was the only player on either team to register a double-double netting 14 points and bringing down 24 rebounds. Sophomore guard Alisha Kebbe and freshman guard Qadashah Hoppie added 11 and 10 points, respectively.

After starting the game on an 8-3 run, the Red Storm’s shots stopped falling, shooting just 1-of-12 from the field to end the period. During St. John’s four-and-a-half-minute scoring drought, the Jayhawks went on an 8-0 run, featuring buckets from Lyons, redshirt-sophomore center Tyler Johnson and Richardson to give Kansas an 11-8 lead at the three-and-a-half-minute mark.

Five-straight points from Hoppie put St. John’s back on top by two, but a 3-point basket from Richardson and a layup from Lott gave the Jayhawks the lead, 16-13, to end the first quarter.

The Red Storm held the Jayhawks to just six points in the second period, while forcing nine KU turnovers. Despite holding St. John’s to shooting just 26.7 percent in the quarter and out rebounding the Red Storm 26-19 through the first 20 minutes of play, both teams’ struggles offensively in the quarter kept the game tied at 22 going into the locker room at the half.

St. John’s Singleton started the half off with a jumper before Osorio went on a 6-2 run to give Kansas a 28-26 lead in the early minutes of the second half. The Red Storm answered with a 5-0 run to regain the lead, but the Jayhawks continued to respond to each of the Red Storm’s run with buckets of their own.

A pair of free throws from freshman center Bailey Helgren cut the St. John’s lead to one. Osorio continued her impressive offensive period with her first 3-point bucket of the night to give Kansas a two-point lead. The Las Vegas, Nevada native netted 10 of her 14 points in the third quarter, shooting perfect from the field. The Jayhawks and Red Storm continued to battle back and forth as time in the third quarter expired, trading off on each of the last eight buckets heading into the final 10 minutes down 42-40.

St. John’s led by as many as five points in the first four minutes of the final quarter, but a series of Kansas offensive plays, including key free throws from Lyons and Watts put KU on top, 48-47, with under five minutes to play. Wellere knocked in two free throws from the charity stripe to give the Red Storm lead once again, but Richardson immediately responded with a jumper to give the Jayhawks a 50-49 lead.

Lyons connected on one of her two attempts from the free throw line to extend the KU lead to two, but a Singleton layup would tie the game up at 51 with 21 seconds remaining in the game. Richardson nailed a jumper at the buzzer that appeared to give Kansas the victory in the final seconds, but the bucket was waved off following review and the Jayhawks headed to overtime for the first time in the 2017-18 season.

The Red Storm netted seven-straight points before the Jayhawks could score in overtime. Kansas went cold in extra time, scoring only two points off of two free throws from junior guard Kylee Kopatich. St. John’s ended on a 7-0 run to hand Kansas its second loss of the season, 65-53.

UP NEXT
The Jayhawks face Iona on Wednesday, December 20 inside Hynes Athletics Center.

— KU Athletics —

No. 16 Mizzou women defeat Indiana for 10th straight win

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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Sophie Cunningham scored 19 points and No. 16 Missouri rolled its 10th straight win with a 75-55 victory over Indiana at the West Palm Beach Invitational on Sunday.

Cunningham, coming off a season-high 35-point performance against Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, scored 17 of her points in the third quarter when the Tigers outscored the Hoosiers 28-14 to break open a game Missouri led by seven at halftime. She was 4 of 6 from 3-point range in 22 minutes. Amber Smith added 10 points, Cierra Porter grabbed 12 rebounds and Hannah Schuchts blocked five shots.

With the win, the Tigers (10-1) tied the program’s sixth-longest streak.

Amanda Cahill scored a season-best 18 points and Tyra Buss 14 for Indiana (6-5), which had a two-game win streak snapped.

Missouri outrebounded Indiana 46-28, 16-8 on the offensive glass, and had a 16-3 advantage in second-chance points.

— Associated Press —

Chiefs rout Chargers 30-13 to seize control of AFC West race

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Alex Smith threw for 231 yards and two touchdowns, Kareem Hunt ran for 155 yards and a score, and the Kansas City Chiefs routed the turnover-prone Los Angeles Chargers 30-13 on Saturday night to seize control of the AFC West.

Hunt also had a TD catch for the Chiefs (8-6), whose eighth straight win over the Chargers all but sewed up the division and a spot in the playoffs. The only way Kansas City can squander it is by losing its last two games and the Chargers or Oakland Raiders winning out.

The Chargers (7-7) led 13-10 early in the second half, but Philip Rivers threw three interceptions — two of them to Marcus Peters — and Austin Ekeler coughed up a fumble down the stretch.

That ended their four-game win streak and quite possibly their playoff hopes.

Rivers finished with 221 yards passing and a touchdown, but has thrown 13 interceptions during the Chargers’ losing streak to the Chiefs. Melvin Gordon added 78 yards rushing and a score.

The game shaped up as a matchup of teams going in opposite directions: The Chiefs were 5-0 before watching their division lead waste away, while the Chargers started out 0-4 but won seven of their next nine to forge a near-winner-take-all divisional showdown at Arrowhead Stadium.

Instead, the Chiefs looked like they did in their Week 3 win over the Chargers.

So did the Chargers, for that matter.

The Chiefs’ defense, which played so salty last week against Oakland, was buoyed by the return of Peters from a one-game disciplinary suspension in helping to build a 10-6 halftime lead.

Rivers soon got on track, going 5 for 5 for 88 yards on his first drive of the second half. And his 10-yard touchdown pass to trusty tight end Antonio Gates gave Los Angeles its only lead.

One that didn’t last very long.

The Chiefs answered with a methodical, 69-yard scoring drive of their own. Hunt supplied most of the work, and he capped the drive by catching Smith’s short TD toss to give the Chiefs a 17-13 lead.

Two plays later, Rivers floated a pass downfield and Peters leaped up to make an easy interception, and his long return set up first-and-goal at the Chargers 6. The Chiefs nearly turned it into another TD when Smith found Hunt again, but the tip of the ball hit the turf for an incompletion.

The Chiefs’ challenge failed and Harrison Butker knocked through a field goal for a 20-13 lead.

The Chargers’ offense, which had committed just six giveaways over the last nine games, coughed it up again three plays later. Peters helped to pry loose the ball from Ekeler, and Butker tacked on a 51-yard field goal a short while for a comfortable cushion.

Rivers threw two more picks in the fourth quarter, giving him six in two games against Kansas City this season, and ending any hopes of Los Angeles mounting a comeback.

AILING BUT ACTIVE

Chargers CB Casey Hayward was active despite missing practice with a calf injury this week. That may have contributed to the star cover man getting burned by Tyreek Hill on his 64-yard first-half TD catch.

INJURIES NOTES

Chargers LB Denzel Perryman left with a hamstring injury late in the first half. S Adrian Phillips left with an ankle injury early in the second. DT Corey Liuget (knee) and LT Russell Okung (groin) also went down in the second half. … Chiefs LB Kevin Pierre-Louis (shoulder) and DL Jarvis Jenkins (elbow) left with injuries in the third quarter.

UP NEXT

Chargers visit the New York Jets next Sunday with fading postseason hopes.

Chiefs try to clinch the AFC West against the Dolphins next Sunday.

— Associated Press —

Missouri adds Brad Davis to football coaching staff

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COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Head Football Coach Barry Odom has added veteran offensive line coach Brad Davis to his coaching staff, as announced today. Davis, who will coach the offensive line, comes to Mizzou after spending the 2017 season at Florida as o-line coach, and he brings with him 15 years of coaching experience, including the last nine seasons running the offensive line at a variety of stops, during which time he’s coached 13 linemen to all-conference honors. Details of Davis’ contract will be released once fully executed, along with the completion of human resources procedures.

At Florida, the Gator offense was beset with injuries throughout the 2017 season, and Davis’ offensive line was extremely young, as there wasn’t a single senior in the two-deep by the end of the season. Despite the challenges, Florida still managed to rush for at least 165 yards in six consecutive games at one stretch, which was the longest streak for the program since 2009. In addition, Florida ran for more than 200 yards in three contests, while the Gator offense ranked second nationally in red zone scoring – converting at a 96.8 percent clip (30-of-31).

“I’m very pleased to have Brad and his family join our program,” said Odom. “He’s a tremendous teacher and mentor, and he’s been lights out on the recruiting trail with his approach to building true relationships with kids. Brad has experience in the SEC and he has worked hard to earn a great amount of respect among his peers. I’m excited to have him with us, and I know he is going to do a great job helping us move forward offensively and continue building,” he said.

“I’m extremely excited to join Coach Odom and his staff at Mizzou and help build on the foundation these guys have already laid,” said Davis. “In playing against these guys this year, I saw a team that played hard, played physical and that enjoyed playing together. With Coach Odom, it was an easy sell, because of his passion for the University of Missouri. Even from afar, that’s something I’ve always admired about him, not only his commitment to the school and to his kids, but really for advancing the program in any way possible. For me, the opportunity to join his program and to continue the mission that he started there, I couldn’t be more excited to do that. I can’t wait to get to work; I can’t wait to help these guys continue the path they’ve been on. I’m excited to get there and to meet all the linemen, they’ve done a fantastic job this year, and I certainly want to continue the trend of keeping these guys going the right direction and getting better daily,” Davis said.

At East Carolina, Davis’ line helped pave the way for the duo of running back Chris Hairston and quarterback James Summers to combine for 1,200 yards rushing and 16 touchdowns.

Prior to ECU, Davis played a key role in guiding prolific offenses at James Madison and Portland State. He was the JMU co-offensive coordinator and line coach during the 2014 campaign, and helped the Dukes to a 9-4 overall mark and the school’s first Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoff appearance since 2011 after a third-place finish in the Colonial Athletic Association.

Davis and James Madison stood 10th nationally in total offense with a 484.6 yards-per-game average that year, and ranked 17th in scoring with a 35.7 points-per-game clip and 21st in both rushing and passing. Behind the play of Associated Press Third-Team All-America quarterback Vad Lee, the Dukes established numerous school records, including passing completions, attempts, yards and touchdowns. In addition to Lee and receiver Daniel Brown, Davis also had a direct impact on the development of another All-CAA performer, offensive lineman Mitchell Kirsch.

Before joining JMU in 2014, Davis spent five years at Portland State, serving as the run-game coordinator and offensive line coach as part of the program’s pistol package. Under Davis, the Vikings had 10 players earn All-Big Sky Conference honors while ranking among the nation’s leaders in fewest sacks allowed.

In 2013, senior tackle Mitchell Van Dyk was named First-Team All-Big Sky and also earned third-team All-America honors by The Sports Network. The 2013 season was a record-breaking one for PSU. Davis helped lead Portland State to the Big Sky’s total offense crown, second in rushing offense and third in scoring offense, while ranking third at the FCS level in rushing offense and total offense. The Vikings also set school records with 6,486 total yards, 3,330 rushing yards, a 277.7 rushing average, 540.5 total offense average and 36 rushing touchdowns. While there, he worked with standout center Cornelius Edison, and tight end Julius Thomas. Edison later won the Rimington Award for the best center in the FCS in 2014, and is now with the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings, while Thomas is now with the Miami Dolphins.

In his last two years at PSU, his line surrendered only a combined 19 sacks to rank ninth (2013) and fifth (2012) nationally, respectively.

Davis was an offensive line staff assistant at North Carolina in 2008 and also spent two years as a defensive line graduate assistant at Texas A&M, as well as a coaching stint at Doane (Neb.) College in 2005 and 2006.

Additionally, he has been credited for developing five players who earned roster positions in the National Football League in the same time frame. Davis has also served two separate NFL summer internships, working with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2011 and Seattle Seahawks in 2012.

Davis, a Baton Rouge, La. native, is a 2003 graduate of the University of Oklahoma where he was a starting offensive lineman for the Sooners. He competed on two Big 12 championship teams, the 2000 National Championship squad and played in the Independence Bowl (1999), Orange Bowl (2001), Cotton Bowl (2002) and Rose Bowl (2003). Davis was named the team’s Most Valuable Offensive Lineman in 2002.

— Mizzou Athletics —

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