Keith Davis (linebacker)
Keith B. Davis | |
---|---|
Born | Los Angeles, California |
Occupation | Motivational speaker |
Known for | former University of Southern California football player and former New York Giants football player |
Keith B. Davis (born in Los Angeles, CA) is a former professional football player and current motivational speaker.
Football Career
High School
Davis attended Santa Monica High School with the graduating class of 1982. He was a member of the Vikings football team that won the state title in 1981 . During high school, he was named The Los Angeles Times’ Westside Lineman of the Year twice and First-Team All-American in 1982.[1]
College
After graduating from high school, Davis was recruited as a linebacker for the University of Southern California Trojans.[2] He led the team in tackles and participated in two Rose Bowl Championship games.[3] As an All-Conference collegian,[4] Davis was also named to the All-American Football Strength Team, the PAC 10 All-Conference second team, and the All-Star Hula Bowl team.[5]
Professional
Signed by the New York Giants in 1988, Davis only played in a few preseason games before a knee injury ended his professional football career.[6],[7] Despite his abridged career, Davis was one of the strongest players on the team, bench-pressing 515 pounds and leg-pressing 1,800 pounds.[8]
Davis is still an active member of the NFL Players Association, Dallas Chapter.[9]
Academic Information
Throughout his collegiate career, Davis maintained the highest grade point average of his entire football team,[10] capturing the Toyota Leadership Award for Outstanding Academics and Leadership[11] and the Scholar Award of Honor.[12]
Davis graduated with a degree in Business Finance.[13] He also earned several academic honors, including Dean's List, Honor Society, and Academic All-Conference.[14]
Motivational Speaking Career
After his football-ending injury, Davis founded Winners, Inc., to provide tutoring, mentoring, and ministry programs for disadvantaged youth.[15] , [16]
Davis also became a motivational speaker to encourage at-risk populations to improve their literacy skills.[17] His main message focuses on learning and cites education as a key factor for future success.[18] His presentations are often based on his life: he improved his remedial reading skills[19] after growing up in a rough inner-city Los Angeles neighborhood[20] , where he lost his father to drug addiction then suicide when he was 4 years old, and lived through his mother’s reliance on alcohol and abusive relationships.[21], [22]
Davis has delivered motivational presentations for more than 3,000 schools in 25 countries.[23] One of his main messages is how individuals can decide to make a U-turn in their lives[24] through hard work and persistence,[25] making good personal choices that lead to personal respect[26] and healthy relationships.[27] Additional presentations at school assemblies discuss handling peer pressure,[28] avoiding bullying[29] and preventing substance use and abuse.[30]
Examples of Speaking Engagements
- Literacy Enhancement And Promotion, Inc (LEAP), a volunteer organization of professional athletes (Denver area, February 1997)[31]
- Red Ribbon Week, a campaign for drug prevention (Princeton, TX, November 2009)[32]
- Bill Glass Champions for Life, a religious ministry for prisons and youth facilities across the United States and several foreign countries (Port Arthur, TX, December 2010 and recurring in other venues)[33], [34]
- Crusade for Christ, teaching youth how to overcome obstacles (Meridian, MS, April 2012)[35]
- Lead On!, a youth leadership conference for the prevention of substance use, (Philadelphia area, May 2012)[36]
- Winners Inc (Baldwin, NY, May 2012 and April 2013; recurring in other locations around the country)[37], [38]
- Worth the Wait, an organization dedicated to decreasing teen pregnancy rates (Amarillo, TX, May 2013)[39]
Personal Life
Davis lives in Dallas with his wife, Sara, and their two sons.[40]
References
- ^ "Tracking down former All-USA players". USA Today. March 28, 2002. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
- ^ "Former New York Giant Keith Davis Motivates Johnson Youth to Succeed". Huntsville Times. January 15, 2002.
- ^ "Rose Bowl Champion and Former Pro Athlete Keith Davis to Speak". The Vermont Journal. March 2, 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
- ^ "Keith Davis". Bill Glass Champions for Life. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
- ^ "Former New York Giant Keith Davis Motivates Johnson Youth to Succeed". Huntsville Times. January 15, 2002.
- ^ "Former New York Giant Keith Davis Motivates Johnson Youth to Succeed". Huntsville Times. January 15, 2002.
- ^ Grantier, Virginia (February 6, 1997). "Strong Message". Denver Post.
- ^ "Keith Davis". Bill Glass Champions for Life. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
- ^ "Keith Davis". NFL Players Association. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
- ^ Ruibal, Sal (December 26, 2001). "Davis Gets Most Out of Sports Opportunities". USA Today. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
- ^ "Rose Bowl Champion and Former Pro Athlete Keith Davis to Speak". The Vermont Journal. March 2, 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
- ^ "Keith Davis". Bill Glass Champions for Life. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
- ^ "Students Attending Safe Homes Receive Valuable Education, Community Service Credit". Westlake Picayune. October 9, 2003.
- ^ "Keith Davis". Bill Glass Champions for Life. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
- ^ "Keith Davis". NFL Players Association. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
- ^ Eaton, Tim (October 10, 2011). "Strong Show of Support". Corpus Christi Caller-Times.
- ^ Eaton, Tim (October 10, 2011). "Strong Show of Support". Corpus Christi Caller-Times.
- ^ Marsilio, Elaine. "Former NFL Players Keith Davis, Devin Wyman Tell Taft ISD Students to Dream Big". Caller.com. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
- ^ Grantier, Virginia (February 6, 1997). "Strong Message". Denver Post.
- ^ "Former New York Giant Keith Davis Motivates Johnson Youth to Succeed". Huntsville Times. January 15, 2002.
- ^ Savana, Freda. "Area Youth Told to 'Dream Big'". PhillyBurbs.com. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
- ^ "Former NFL Players Teach Goliad Students to Aim High". Victoria Advocate. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
- ^ Duwe, Kristen. "No Smoking: Teens Learn About Good Decision-Making". Times Record News. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
- ^ Marsilio, Elaine. "Former NFL Players Keith Davis, Devin Wyman Tell Taft ISD Students to Dream Big". Caller.com. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
- ^ "Rose Bowl Champion and Former Pro Athlete Keith Davis to Speak". The Vermont Journal. March 2, 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
- ^ "Students Attending Safe Homes Receive Valuable Education, Community Service Credit". Westlake Picayune. October 9, 2003.
- ^ Savana, Freda. "Area Youth Told to 'Dream Big'". PhillyBurbs.com. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
- ^ "Students Attending Safe Homes Receive Valuable Education, Community Service Credit". Westlake Picayune. October 9, 2003.
- ^ Savana, Freda. "Area Youth Told to 'Dream Big'". PhillyBurbs.com. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
- ^ Duwe, Kristen. "No Smoking: Teens Learn About Good Decision-Making". Times Record News. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
- ^ Grantier, Virginia (February 6, 1997). "Strong Message". Denver Post.
- ^ "Red Ribbon Week Gains Strong Start". Princeton Herlad. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
- ^ "Keith Davis". Bill Glass Champions for Life. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
- ^ Cunningham, Chloe (December 6, 2010). "Pro Players Bring Positive Message". The Port Arthur News. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
- ^ Williams, Andrea. "Former NFL Players Crusade for Christ". ABC 11/WTOK News Center. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
- ^ Savana, Freda. "Area Youth Told to 'Dream Big'". PhillyBurbs.com. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
- ^ Connolly, Chris (May 30, 2012). "Winners Inc. at BHS". Baldwin Herald. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
- ^ Connolly, Chris (April 18, 2013). "Motivational Speakers Winners Inc. Visit BHS". Baldwin Herald. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
- ^ "Fewer Local Teen Pregnancies". News Channel 10. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
- ^ "Former New York Giant Keith Davis Motivates Johnson Youth to Succeed". Huntsville Times. January 15, 2002.