Davis has a new culture under Scott Joseph
"You have to live up to the name and that means winning," Joseph laughed. "My dad [Eddie] set the bar and my brother [Gary] made it even higher."
The culture is changing at Davis and it starts at the top. The offseason was tremendously competitive, and the Falcons made some strides in the weight room. It's all about competition with Joseph, in everything the Falcons do.
His father is legendary coach Eddie Joseph, inducted into the Texas High School Coaches Hall of Fame. Same with his brother Gary, who leads the Katy Tigers.
"I'd love to play Katy," he said. "We just don't have the numbers but having our kids play in front of 10,000 fans and see the pageantry that is Katy would be a great learning experience. That type of program is what everyone is striving to be."
Davis reached the postseason a year ago, before being throttled by The Woodlands in the first round. It wasn't competitive and athletic director Dre Thompson made the switch to Joseph en lieu of coach James Showers, who opened the school.
"Coach Showers did a great job and had some success here," Joseph said. "We are here to take it to the next level."
Like the old adage states, "it's not about the X's and O's, but the Jimmies and the Joes". So, what's in the cupboard? Davis was hit hard by graduation but there are some nice returning pieces.
Running back DeMarcus Barlow Jr. is the headliner. He rushed for just under 1,000 yards and also doubled as the quarterback. This year he will be the featured back and will likely see some balls thrown his way out of the backfield.
"We saw him in the spring and the offseason," Joseph said. "He needs to understand his role as a leader and he's been working on that. He's got to do things the right way because everyone else is watching him.
"He nearly gained 1,000 yards playing teams like Westfield, Eisenhower and Spring. That's some pretty tough competition, so we know he can play."
The offensive line is huge but must get more explosive off the ball. Keeymon White is the leader along with ViShean Graham and Alexis Guerrero, who are all at least 6-foot-3 and over 300 pounds.
Isaiah ProchiaBy Lily Cox
The surprise could be at quarterback with the arrival of Lufkin move-in Jah'Rell Stevens, who is huge but an unknown so far. He will challenge Tylen Charles for the signal-calling spot. Jacob Sampson, Rodney Johnson and Jayden Clebourn are explosive targets on the outside.
The defense will be tremendously inexperienced but likely more sound in 2019 – it better be. The playmakers will be Tremayne Evans, who will patrol the secondary while Isaiah Prochia will come off the edge at defensive end.
Other defensive players of note include DB Darius Mackey and Jamel Thomas.
The biggest challenge for Joseph this offseason was getting his staff and athletes on the same page.
"There are 10 new coaches here and we had so much to get installed in a short period of time," Joseph said. "To be able to work kids hard, you have to have a relationship with them and that was a challenge early on.
"What we are really excited about is that our seniors are buying into the program. Of course we are measured by winning, but changing the culture at Davis starts with them. I want them to be remembered for starting something big at Aldine Davis."
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