Interview: 2017 LB/FB Hunter Davenport Ready to Continue Terrorizing Arkansas Opposition

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

From a physical standpoint, sometimes there are just guys on the field that are heads and shoulders above the rest of their competition – Hunter Davenport is one of those guys.

Since Davenport’s sophomore season he has caught the eye and attention of diehard high school football fans within the state of Arkansas. The 6’0.5”, now 250 pound, athlete was seemingly unstoppable on both sides of the ball in 2014 rushing for 350 yards off 51 carries with a score, caught four passes for 55 yards with another score, and even completed 7 of 8 passes for 58 yards. On the defensive side of the ball, the Lamar High School talent nailed 105 ball carriers to the sod adding 21 tackles for a loss, eight sacks, forced four fumbles, recovered two fumbles, picked off a pass, and even blocked two punts.

The terrorizing of the opposition continued in 2015 seeing him take over quarterback duties full-time passing for 636 yards off 31 of 49 attempts with 13 touchdowns and zero interceptions. He was a load rushing for 612 yards off 66 carries with 10 scores sporting a 9.3 yard per carry average. On defense, he continued to play iron man football registering 33 tackles, 11 tackles for a loss, forced two fumbles, recovered one, and picked up one sack.

As an astute reader, and all of RNG’s readers are, the drop off in the stat line had to jump out. In Game 6 of the 2015 season, Davenport unknowingly tore his MCL. In Game 7 he added a torn ACL and meniscus completely tearing his MCL. Davenport is back and healthy already running and already planning on leading the Warriors to a state title in 2016.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I sat down with Davenport going over his last two seasons on the field, his injury and current health status, and received a recruiting news update.

Interview

Hunter, let’s get the tough stuff out of the way first. If you will, please tell me about your injury, how it happened and what injury you suffered.

“I got rolled up on in the second quarter of Game 6 (Booneville). I was playing quarterback. I tore my MCL which I did not know until later on in the week. In Game 7 (Charleston), I tore my ACL and meniscus and finished off my MCL after I got rolled up on again.”

Did you know it was bad in Week 7 when you tore your ACL and meniscus?

“In Week 6 when it happened it felt unconformable. In Week 7, I knew something was wrong. I had no stability in my knee and it felt weird and awkward. I could not put pressure on it. I was hoping for the best.”

Onto the good news. What is your health status now?

“I am feeling good. I can actually do some cutting and football activity. It feels great right now. It’s not where I want it to be but I’m working to get there.”

Before your injury last year, what was your squat max?

“520.”

What is your bench press max right now?

“I’m around 280-290.”

What are you squatting now?

“I’m squatting over 200 but I’m taking everything slow. A lot of the squats are box squats building the strength back up.”

What is the 40-yard dash time you are aiming for once you are fully healthy and have had time to build your speed and strength back up?

“I’m aiming for a 4.7 and then a 4.6. That’s where I want to be, around a 4.6 before my senior season starts.”

What are some of the offseason workouts you are doing to prepare for your senior year?

“I’m just trying to get my footwork better and improve my explosion. I’m trying to work back up to 520 pounds on squat and pass that mark. I want to hit 550 this summer. I plan on getting my bench up over 300. Other than that, working on my footwork and getting faster.”

What gains did you make at linebacker from your sophomore year to your junior year at linebacker?

“I felt a whole lot more experienced. With the camps, huge difference from the last two years. I’m more mature out there. Reading the guards seems so much easier. I’m more of a run stopper through the tackles and sideline to sideline. I definitely need to work on dropping back into coverage. I’m working on that first step back getting into coverage.”

How is playing quarterback going for you? Are you enjoying that experience?

“It’s great. I always wanted to play quarterback but I was too big. We were more of a read-option team in 2015. I’m really more of a fullback out there. It was fun playing quarterback. We did not go into the spread and throw like I had hoped but it all went well.”

Will you play quarterback again during your senior year?

“I will play quarterback my senior year. We’ll spread it out a little more and with more passing this year. When I go to camps I will be focusing in at linebacker and fullback.”

As a ball carrier, what are your strengths on the field?

“I’m more of a straight away/north-south guy. I’m not a juke kind of player. I read the line well and I can cut pretty good, but I’m a run over you kind of guy.”

What camps are you planning on attending coming up?

“I’m attending a Rivals camp in May. I’ll be at Arkansas’ camp of course, Missouri State, I’m trying to go to Missouri, and I’m thinking of ending it with Kansas. Arkansas State too. I might hit some D-II schools around my area.”

Might be some overlapping here but which schools are showing recruiting interest in you?

“Missouri State, Kansas has sent about 45 letters, Navy has sent about 30 letters, Arkansas coach Barry Lunney has been in touch with me – he’s going to start messaging me. Missouri State has started messaging me. Tennessee is sending me stuff, Oklahoma State, Arkansas State, and Memphis – they’ve all sent me a lot of letters. Southern Miss and Arkansas Tech have been showing interest too.”

Have you taken any unofficial visits yet?

“I went to Memphis but did not get to talk to the coaches. I saw the field and the campus – it was pretty sweet. Arkansas is a great place and I’ve done unofficial visits at UCA (Central Arkansas) and Arkansas Tech.”

Are you taking any unofficial visits coming up?

“I’m going to Arkansas’ Junior Day and Memphis’ Junior Day.”

Do you have a GPA you don’t mind sharing?

“I have a 3.0 maybe a 3.1.”

Have you taken the ACT or SAT yet?

“I just took the SAT last Tuesday but I have not gotten the results yet. I’m taking ACT April 9.”

How do you feel you did on the test?

“It was okay, a little different than I thought it would be. We’ve been practicing in prep classes.”

Are you playing any spring sports for Lamar?

“I’m trying to play baseball this year in the spring. I plan on playing basketball next year.”

Are you a pretty good baseball player?

“I’m pretty good. I love playing baseball. My brother, he was on a traveling team. I’ve been on a traveling team since I was 8-years-old. Baseball is more of a hobby but I love it.”

Are you getting any baseball looks?

“I’ve received looks from Oklahoma Wesley, they are a small school, and Dallas Baptist.”

Dallas Baptist is normally a pretty good program.

“Yeah, I know.”

Which positions do you play?

“I play third base and I pitch. I like to use my bat. My freshman year at the varsity level, I had nine homeruns and 57 RBI. Last year I think I had 14 home runs and 82 RBI.”

Impressive. Hunter, thanks for your time today and good luck with all the camps coming up.

“Thank you.”

Photo credit: Davenport family; Hunter Davenport at an Arkansas camp.

Photo credit: couriernews.com; No. 2 Hunter Davenport puts on a move against a defender.

Photo credit: Davenport family; No. 1 Hunter Davenport with adopted brother No. 74 Mico Chenault.