It’s easy for an athlete to think that after they hang up their uniforms and shoes for the final time that their life is over or that the one thing that got them through countless days is done.
That mindset was not the case for Ceedrick Davis.
Davis played at FIU for the 2010 and 2011 seasons and wore number 72 while playing on the offensive line.
He was a member of the team for both bowl game appearances: the win against the University of Toledo in the 2010 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl and the loss to now Conference USA opponent Marshall University in the 2011 Beef O’ Brady’s Bowl.
The Gainesville born, Jacksonville raised athlete who came in at 6-foot-4 and 305-pound to FIU was a recruit to the former head coach Mario Cristobal era.
“I was first noticed by FIU as a freshman in high school and then I moved to Jacksonville and they found me again as a senior,” Davis said. “They offered me [a scholarship] in the fall of my senior year; it was under Cristobal but specifically [former coach Jeff] Popovich as he was the recruitment director for that area.”
Davis knew from his early playing days that he was primarily an offensive player.
“I told my coach in high school that I only played offense because I always like to know what I am doing,” Davis said.
This past season would have been the swan song for Davis’ playing days, but injuries ended his career early.
“I have a very bad back injury. It is three levels of herniation including scoliosis and spinal stenosis. A combination of injuries led to ending my playing. They kinda took over,” Davis said. “There are other things to life than football.”
Davis was able to keep his scholarship after obtaining the injury.
“With injuries it is all about timing. Luckily for me I got hurt here at FIU so the football program is responsible for taking care of me.” Davis said. “Guys that get hurt prior to getting in usually have to pay for their own stuff. FIU is not responsible and they don’t want to spend more money than they have to. Fortunately for me I was able to have both my medical and academic bills paid for.”
He has proven in the time since his playing career ended that playing may end, but you can still be involved in football while accepting other responsibilities.
“I’ll have my four year degree in liberal studies after I take one final class in summer,” Davis said. “I am a musician as well. Football is one-third of my life.”
The musical side of Davis is most in tune with the genres of R&B and hip-hop.
“There is something about R&B mixed with hip-hop that makes it almost like singing poetry. When you listen to rappers like Wale, Kendrick Lamar and Drake they kinda revolutionized the way that we view music,” Davis said.
Davis is not a big fan of auto-tune. Instead he’s a big fan of the Temptations, Luther Vandross and Marvin Gaye. He said he’s really into Motown music because it’s real music made with real instruments.
“I have seven songs out to date through CuttBoiEntertainment and my most recent song is from the house genre,” Davis said.
Although through his injury he has stayed connected to football.
“I am currently the offensive line coach at Ronald W. Reagan Doral Senior High School. I have always wanted to coach football and I figured that if playing didn’t get me to the professional level, then I could coach,” Davis said. “Not everyone goes to the pros. I want to be able to push young individuals to the same heights that I reached and higher.”
Davis thinks the thing that’s missing in our school systems is role models. He thinks he can be that at the high school level.
“You can learn anything in football. Football is a sport that you can learn anything, whether you play it or not,” Davis said.
-rhys.williams@fiusm.com
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