He has dazzled in both football and track at Missouri Valley College, been named MVP in the German Football League and turned heads at his first CFL training camp last spring. More recently, Tyler Davis has made just as big an impact away from the field. The wide receiver/returner has become a regular face on the BC Lions community school appearances, educating students on the importance of environmental responsibility in the Fortis BC Energy Champions program. The presentations have taken him, Jeremiah Johnson and Matt Bucknor to schools all across the province, including stops in the Okanagan last week. For Davis, it has proven to be an eye-opening experience
“I just love interacting with kids. I’m a big kid myself so I kind of get it,” he said.
“It’s easy for me to interact and communicate with them. I love getting my face out there and giving back. I didn’t have all of this when I was younger and in a community that wasn’t so well off. Meeting professional athletes at such a young age was very rare for us. Getting to see smiles on all the kids’ faces and making their day is just life-changing. I love it.”
Chris Rainey took Davis in during the 2017 season and its safe to say living with the family of four, which includes Chris’ three-year-old son Makari and two-year-old daughter Makynli, opened his eyes to the importance of giving back to young kids.
“It’s really cool to see them grow up and starting to understand different words,” Davis explained.
“Makynli is starting to formulate words and communicate, while Makari is three going on thirty. He tells you ‘no’ and things like that. It’s really cool to see kids grow up.”
Davis spent his youth going back and forth between St. Louis and Oakland where his Mom and Dad lived separately. Some of the recent unrest south of the border was another motivating factor that led to him staying in the lower mainland this winter. He had spent the last few offseasons in St. Louis teaching math and working as a personal trainer.
“St. Louis is the murder capital of the United States. There’s a bunch of greed there and it’s not a very good place for someone of my demographic,” Davis said.
“People there have an ‘I don’t care’ type of attitude and will do whatever it takes to get stuff from you. If I was still there I would probably still be teaching because once you pass along that knowledge to kids and see that it is starting to click, that is one of the most fulfilling things in the world.”
As for his second camp in orange, Davis’ versatility will also come into play. Primarily a defensive back college, he spent parts of last season working with the running backs and handled kick return duties in a victory at Winnipeg on October 28th when Rainey was used as the featured tailback. The plan from day one of this year’s training camp will be to have him compete at wide receiver.
“I’m so ready. That was another reason I decided to stay in town was so I wouldn’t be the book that fell behind the bookcase,” he said.
“I wanted to get to know new receivers coach Markus Howell and train with ( strength and conditioning coach) Chris Boyko every day. He’s been great to work with. Even if I come to the facility after a school visit and he’s gone he leaves the workout info on the wall and I can always text him if I have a question. I’m not slacking and definitely getting bigger, faster and stronger.”
Players handle long stretches on the practice roster differently. Some feel slighted and are of the mind they are getting the wrong end of the stick. Davis used every day on the field as an opportunity and that patience paid off when it came time to make roster decisions for that late season trip to the Manitoba capital.
“The biggest thing I learned was to stay patient. Your time will come. I couldn’t have done anything better last year and gave it my all every practice. Patience is a virtue.”
And if he can pass along some of those traits to the young fans he sees in schools, the community will continue to be a better place because of it.
“I love being here, being able to travel and see how happy these kids are. I wish I could be a kid forever. They have nothing to lose and everything to gain. I love seeing kids smile.”