Interview: 3-Star 2022 Florida QB Davin Wydner is Taking Holy Trinity into the Playoffs
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
Have big arm, will travel – that is the look for Class of 2022 quarterback Davin Wydner. Wydner slung the pigskin around the yard with Savannah’s (GA) Island High School during the 2019 season throwing for 1,013 yards and 11 scores while rushing for 328 yards tacking on three more touchdowns. The big 6-5, 215-pound, field general has pushed his abilities forward in 2020 with Melbourne’s (FL) Holy Trinity completing passes at a 67 percent rate covering 2,249 yards with 19 scores while rushing for seven more touchdowns. The Tigers are 4-3 heading into the playoffs with their star talent covering 321 yards per game. The first postseason tests for Holy Trinity comes this week with a visit from Father Lopez.
In an update interview with Wydner, he talks about his season against Florida squads with an update on his recruiting process.
Interview
Davin, you closed out competition against 3A Florida teams in the regular season with style completing 20-of-31 passes for 353 yards with two touchdowns and rushed 11 times for 103 yards with another score in a 28-6 win over Space Coast. What was working for you in this one to make it one of your best of the season?
We established the run game. Throughout the county, they know we like to air it out. We are leading the county in passing yards. A lot of teams were sending three or four and dropping up to eight. A couple of weeks ago, I told my coaches that my frame helps me run. I can move around a little bit. We put in some designed runs. I am trusting myself to pull the ball and gain yards on the ground. I am getting 5- and 10-yard gains. We have added a different look to our offense, a well needed part to our offense.
This was just touched on, but going deeper. Throughout the seven-game schedule, how have defenses been lining up against you and the Tigers?
Six of the seven teams were nothing but Cover 4. In my biggest passing games, they ran a Cover 6. I guess they thought we’d never seen it before. Against Merritt Island, I threw for 460 yards. I was attacking everything. My receivers do a great job of recognizing coverages. We sit and talk about football instead of hobbies like most teenagers. We are a smart group. We see safeties at 15 and a corner at 8 yards, we know they are in cover 4. In Cover 3, they doubled our best receiver; that was a different look. Normally we just see Cover 4.
What offense are you executing with Holy Trinity?
We are naturally a Spread with two-man concepts half field mirrored with slide protection up front. We are a very vertical team spacing everything out with some screens. Our receivers will run some screens and slip screens to keep them honest and not bailing on the snap. We are a sideline to sideline team that goes vertical when we can.
Other than the screens and vertical routes, which other routes are your receivers running?
We do a lot of slant-wheel, slant-bubble, slant-out, lots of posts from the inside, and a slant from the outside. Our receivers run a lot of verts. We want to see if their corner can run with our guys. It is pretty basic, 10- and 5-yard outs, seams, and quick hitters to our slots.
What are some on the field challenges you’ve faced this season?
We have a really young offensive line. I had to learn how to move in the pocket, but all props to them. They do a great job to help us win games and throw for a lot of yards. Picking up coverages has been my biggest challenge, that and taking what they give me. Throwing 30 times a game, I will make mistakes. I need to take the easy throw and not always throw into tight coverage with a safety rolling. During the playoffs, I need to do a better job of taking what they are giving me.
How have those challenges helped to make you a better quarterback?
I think it teaches me field and eye discipline. Seeing who I am staring down, knowing where the safety is, pulling the ball and knowing when to throw. Running has become a big part of our game. I am getting better at taking it down and going for four to six yards at a clip.
Where have you seen the biggest gains in your skills this season?
From last year to this year, I never trusted my body; I would escape pressure. This season I am staying in there taking a lick to deliver a throw. I have taken my arm talent to a different level. This season I am making throws I was not making last year. That helps the offense. The ability to tuck and run instead of throwing it out of bounds or forcing a deflection or interception, my decision making as a whole has improved.
Which areas of your game are you always working on in practice?
Ball placement and timing. As we go deeper, we will see better and better teams. You can’t miss inside on an outside route against better teams. We are doing a great job of repping routes. In practice, we are going over all the in-game scenarios so when we get into a game it is muscle memory. Timing, our routes, where they should be, and where the ball should go against different types of coverages.
The Tigers get Father Lopez (Daytona Beach) on Friday, Nov. 13. What kind of matchup can the fans expect in this one?
I think it’ll be a good showing to see what type of team we are. We are going outside the county now seeing these other schools. They’ve had some injuries, but I have heard good things about them. If we keep playing the way we’ve been playing, we can host another playoff game the following Friday.
Let’s cover some ground on recruiting. Which schools are now showing interest?
I get a lot of mail from Florida State and Mississippi State. I have talked to Memphis, Duke, UF (Florida), Nebraska, and Iowa State – they are a big one, and Georgia Tech as well.
Where is the offer total now?
I have three: Princeton, Florida Atlantic, and Pitt.
When visits are allowed again in 2021, are there any schools you’d like to go see?
Yes, I’d like to visit a few schools. I had a planned visit before the virus to UF; that would be a good one. I was also supposed to go to West Virginia; that’d be a big one. And I was supposed to go visit Pitt and see that bend up there. Penn State is another school that has been reaching out that’d I’d like to see.
How is school going?
School is good. We have a rigorous school schedule. Holy Trinity is a prestigious academic school. I do a good job communicating with my teachers if I need help on a subject. I am a 3.3 (GPA), 3.5 kid. It is looking good so far. My mom is into academics which helps me. I try hard, study, and do my homework.
What are your favorite classes this semester?
I’ve always been a U.S. history guy. Last year I took my first world history class, I had a hard time keeping up. This year I am back in U.S. history; shout out to Mr. McGuinness. He has brought that back for me. My dad is math teacher in high school. I have always been good in math. History is my strong suit in school.
Davin, it was great catching up with you today. Any last words before we wrap?
Yes, I would like to give a shout out to my offensive line for all their hard work.
Good luck in the playoffs.
Yes, sir.
Photo credit: Wydner family; Davin Wydner