Dougherty’s Maurice Davis chooses Ole Miss

ALBANY — With college scholarship offers from around the country, Dougherty High’s Maurice Davis announced Saturday during a celebration event at the Grille House in downtown Albany. that he plans to play football and continue his education at Ole Miss. Ole Miss is led by one of college football’s most well-known coaches, Lane Kiffin.

“It was the coaches, really,” Davis said after the announcement. “That’s what made the difference. They have coached some of my favorite NFL players and I wanted to be a part of that. They are also about to open a new facility with new locker rooms and weight rooms. I liked it there.”

Davis, a rising senior for the Dougherty Trojans, had numerous offers including Texas A&M, Colorado, Memphis, and many more. Before the event, Davis narrowed his choices to Ole Miss, Louisville, and South Florida. At the beginning of Saturday’s event, Davis had lined the hate of the three schools on the table and once his mother gave the go-ahead, Davis immediately selected the Ole Miss hat and put it on his head.

Davis, 6’ 5”, 215, is a star on the Trojan defense that will have a lot of new starters when the season starts after several graduated in the spring. According to 247Sports.com, Davis is the No.72 high school prospect in the state of Georgia and would be the first “Edge” commit the Ole Miss Rebels have for the Class of 2024.

“We had probably 50 coaches come through here last spring to talk to Maurice,” said Dougherty head coach Johnny Gilbert. “I am elated that Maurice has the opportunity to play in the SEC, which I think is one of the best football conferences in the country. Maurice is an awesome guy and for him to have this opportunity is excellent. He is already a great student and a great football player, but with the coaches and the resources Ole Miss has, I am sure they will be able to develop Maurice into an even better player and help him get to the next step.”

Davis was also a standout on the Dougherty basketball team that went to state Elite Eight but he plans to forgo basketball this year because he intends to graduate after the fall semester and enroll at Ole Miss in January.

Davis’ mother, Megan Jordan, organized the event and thanked all of the friends, family, coaches, and teammates who gathered at the Grille House Saturday afternoon. Before she gave Davis the nod to make his choice, she light-heartedly said she was hoping her son would choose South Florida. Davis, however, went west, instead of south.

Joe Whitfield