Washington grad Davis happy to be with Hawkeyes

IOWA CITY - Keenan Davis floated around media day with nervous energy and a mile-wide smile.

Iowa football media day happened to line up with the first day of practice. Davis, a prep star at Cedar Rapids Washington, was finally a Hawkeye.

Officially, with one sweaty practice to prove it. Officially and finally.

What was the first day like?

“Really competitive and fast. It's . . . really fast,” said Davis, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound wide receiver. “It gets you going. You have to raise your game up.

“I'm really glad it's finally here. It's a big weight off your shoulders. It's just great to be a part of something this big, something that everyone cares about.”

To fully grip Davis' giddy anticipation for football practice, you have to understand that this process started three years ago.

Davis exploded his sophomore year, earning first-team all-Mississippi Valley Conference honors after snaring 36 passes for 585 yards and eight touchdowns. He finished his career for the Warriors with 162 catches for 2,602 yards and 26 TDs. He played in the Under Armour All-American game last spring.

Davis' sophomore numbers were plenty of incentive for Iowa coaches to take notice, but there was a sense of urgency with Davis. In 2003, Iowa lost to Michigan in a recruiting battle for Washington star wideout Adrian Arrington.

Iowa wanted to lock down its backyard. Davis received a scholarship offer his sophomore year. Last summer, it paid off.

“We were impressed with him at an early age and he's improved with each opportunity,” Ferentz said on signing day in February. “That's been fun to watch. He's an impressive guy. It was a relief for all of us when he made up his mind in the summer, to attend Iowa. It helped give us some momentum. When those guys make their minds up they are coming, that is a good thing.”

When he committed, Davis said he wanted his mom and dad (Caryn and Kenneth) and two older brothers to be able to see him play. During what he said was a “dozen” unofficial visits to Iowa, Davis said he reached a comfort level with Iowa's entire coaching staff, including receivers coach Erik Campbell.

“I wanted to make all my visits, but then I thought I didn't want to be away from family and friends,” Davis said. “I really do want to be with my family. I had a couple talks and thought, ‘Why not Iowa?' Family, friends and I have a really good relationship with the coaches.”

Of course, it didn't hurt that Kenneth Davis and Campbell grew up in Gary, Ind., and played sports together.

“I'm excited to see him,” Campbell said on media day. “Today was the first day and we've got a lot more practices to go before September, but he has a chance. He's a young guy who is developing every day and he's a great athlete.”

And now it's finally and officially real for Davis.

During Iowa's open scrimmage on Aug. 15, Davis caught two passes for 12 yards. During last week's Big Ten Network coverage of practice, Davis stretched out for a diving catch that had show hosts applauding.

When the two-deeps were released Friday, Davis wasn't listed. And that's OK. His mind is set on earning his spot.

Last year, he was the king of everything. Now, he's just a kid out there.

“I love being the kid,” he said. “That's why I chose Iowa. Nobody's really a star to the coaches. That's why I love Iowa.”