BENTONVILLE — Siloam Springs junior wide receiver Zach Davis will never forget the number 23.
That number represents the exact amount of snaps he received on offense as a sophomore last season. In those 23 plays he caught two passes for 15 yards — one catch for eight yards against Russellville, and one for seven against Rogers Heritage.
“I got 23 snaps of offense last year,” Davis said Monday after the Panthers’ final NWA Passing League session of the summer at Tiger Stadium. “They had it up last year, and I memorized that number. It was super low, and I was like ‘dang it, I’ve got to get that up.’”
Davis said he wanted to triple the number of offensive snaps this season as a junior. However if preseason trends are any indication, the 6-foot, 168-pound junior will far exceed that amount.
Davis is penciled in to start as the Panthers’ inside receiver or ‘X’ this fall. According to wide receivers coach Tad Davis (no relation), it’s a job well-earned.
“Athletically, he’s worked really hard in the weight room, and that’s shown up,” Tad Davis said. “He’s one of our faster kids. He’s become one of our stronger kids, and that’s transitioned really well to the field. He’s doing an outstanding job as far as learning the position.”
Zach Davis showed some glimpses Monday of what he can do for the Panthers.
He caught a 20-yard corner route touchdown pass from junior quarterback Chris Lampton in a win against Elkins. Davis also caught another touchdown pass from Lampton for Siloam Springs’ only score against Bentonville.
“You can tell he’s motivated,” Siloam Springs coach Bryan Ross said. “You don’t ever have to worry about Zach’s attitude and Zach’s effort. He’s a great kid. He’s going to give us everything he’s got.”
Ross said the inside receiver position demands a lot physically, not just catching the ball but blocking as well. With Davis’ strong offseason, the coaches believe he can do both.
“You’re looking for a guy that can catch the ball in traffic but can also block,” Ross said. “A lot of times our inside receiver is going to be responsible for blocking a linebacker. We’re not going to ask them to dry block them, but he’s got to be able to physically handle blocking a backer in space. It’s a tough position because you are going to catch the ball in the middle of the field quite a bit. That’s just part of the game.
“Zach, he’s one of those kids you can hang your hat on. You know that you’re going to get everything he’s got all the time.”
Tad Davis said Zach Davis carries such a pleasant demeanor that he’s had to force him to be more aggressive.
“The thing about Zach is he’s such a nice kid that he almost doesn’t want to take a kid’s position. He’s that nice of a kid,” Tad Davis said. “Through his work in the weight room, it’s become apparent that he’s one of those kids that needs to be on the football field. He’s really taken ownership of being in that first group. He’s really done an outstanding job.”
Zach Davis said he hears the coaches loud and clear regarding his aggressiveness.
“I’m trying to act more like Chandler Gregory, trying to bulk up a little bit and be a little mean,” Zach Davis said of the Panthers’ top returning receiver. “I’ve been working on it, been doing a little better pushing guys around.”