Bronco passing game in ELITE hands for upcoming season
By Alan Gerould, senior writer
KALAMAZOO -- It was a thing of beauty. The Bronco football team being put through the paces by their respective position coaches in sun-drenched Waldo Stadium. Head Coach P.J. Fleck sprints from one segment to the next, encouraging, teaching, orchestrating, doing what he does so well, pushing each and every one of his players to change their best, to be better today than they were yesterday.
Witness senior receiver Corey Davis. What could a coach possibly do to change this guy's best? Three years ago, as a freshman, Davis was named Mid-American Conference freshman of the year. The last two years he was named First-Team All-MAC. He is currently the active leading receiver in FBS with 3,785 career yards and 33 career receiving TD's. He is just 400 yards away from being the all-time MAC leader in career receiving yards which is 4,187 and is currently held by Bronco alum Jordan White.
Pretty impressive resume no doubt but when your head coach is a former NFL wide receiver who coached the Tampa Bay Buccaneers receivers just prior to moving to Kalamazoo, you bet that he will get the max out of jersey number 84.
Toward the end of practice Thursday, Fleck worked one on one with Davis, standing a few steps behind him as Davis faced the stadium wall. Fleck rapid-fired one tennis ball after another over and around Davis from every possible angle as Davis quickly and instinctively snatched them out of the air.
"He was working on my reflexes and my muscle twitch," Davis said after practice. " I believe that I am getting better coaching here than most NFL receivers. Coach Fleck and all the coaches really care about me being the best I can be."
"Corey Davis is an elite receiver because he works very hard at it," Fleck said. "Some guys have the God given talent and all the measurables but don't work hard at getting better every day. Not Corey, he gets after it every time he steps on the field or in the weight room. Just as importantly he also works on his education and being a good member of the community. He is a real leader and sets a good example for our younger players."
There was a lot of speculation that Davis may forgo his senior year in Kalamazoo and opt for the bright lights and money in the NFL. His brother Titus, a former Central Michigan University standout, was signed by the San Diego Chargers and is currently listed on the New York Jets roster according to the NFL website.
"I talked it over with my family and Coach Fleck and we determined that the extra year of college ball would allow me to continue to change my best, mature and improve my stock for next year's draft," Davis said. "I am really excited to be back here to continue gROWing and to help lead this team to a MAC Championship."
When asked where he would like to spend the post season this year after trips to Idaho and the Bahamas the last two years, Davis paused.
"I don't care where we go as much as when we play," Davis said. "That would be on New Year's Day."
Davis was part of the top receiving tandem in the nation last season along with Daniel Braverman who did declare for the draft.
"We will miss Brave. He was an exciting talent and a great teammate and we wish him well," Davis said. "We have a lot of talent coming back, coming up and coming in. We will be just fine at the receiver position."
Quarterback Zach Terrell had high praise for Davis after joking with him for a bit.
"He's okay," Terrell said of Davis with a smile on his face. "Corey really makes me look good. He catches balls that most receivers would never catch. I know that if I get it out there close, number 84 is going to go get it."
Terrell is very excited for the coming season and can't wait for the fall to get here.
"What have we got, 133 days until Northwestern?" Terrell said. "It will be up to Corey and I and the other upperclassmen to make sure that we are all continuing to change our best daily through the summer when the coaches are out recruiting, holding camps, etc."
Davis came to Kalamazoo from Wheaton, Illinois, a community of 55,000 west of Chicago and not far from Northern Illinois University, a team that Davis and the rest of his recruiting class have yet to beat.
"We get them in our house this year on homecoming and I am really looking forward to it," Davis said. "In addition to them beating us the last three years, It's also a chance to play against Ryan (Graham)."
Davis moved in with the Dan and Robin Graham, Ryan's parents, his junior year and Ryan was his high school quarterback.
"The Graham's are family to me. They played a very important role in the person that I am today," Davis said. "I am very grateful for all they have done for me. But I still want to beat Ryan bad."
It's a sure bet that we will be able to follow Davis for years to come on Sundays and every other day professional football is played on, just as we have followed Greg Jennings career. For now, Davis is gearing up and getting ready to start his final season at WMU and go out on top.
"We want there to be a 2016 next to the 1966 and 1988," Davis said. "Up there where it says MAC Championships."