Davison ready for debut
The expectations for Galion, Ohio safety Cario Davison have been high since early in his career, but the class of 2015 prospect was not able to fulfill those as a sophomore due to injury.
Now back to full health, Davison anticipates his return to the gridiron in two weeks as he opens his junior season.
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"Missing last year, that really hurt," Davison said. "Now that I can play, I am hungry and I want it. I feel like I am playing better than I have ever been playing and feel that I am at 100 percent.
The injury - a torn ACL in the knee - also kept Davison off the camp and combine circuit this past spring and summer. Instead, he used that time to tour college campuses with his friend and teammate, four-star athlete Dareian Watkins.
Watkins committed to Northwestern in May, and Davison was along for many of his visits to Evanston. Their bond is close and they consider each other brothers, but Watkins' decision does not necessarily mean Davison will follow suit.
"It doesn't have as much of an effect as everyone assumes it would," Davison said. "I am going to go wherever suits me best, and he's going to go to Northwestern because that fits him the best."
The Northwestern coaching staff has taken a strong interest in Davison, and will be one of many teams watching the juniors progress this season. His frequent visits to the campus have given him a strong, early impression of the Wildcats.
"Coach Fitz is a pretty laid-back dude and I love him," Davison said. "The players are cool and the program is getting better year-by-year."
Besides Northwestern, Davison also made campus visits to Indiana, Michigan State, Illinois, Wisconsin and Penn State.
"Indiana, Louisville and Wisconsin, I have been hearing a lot from the coaches there and they have been sending me some mail," Davison said. "I want to hit all of the schools that are recruiting me [this fall]."
The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Davison is playing wide receiver and defensive back this fall for Galion. He could potentially project to either side of the football in college, but said most teams see him at safety and he feels he is more of a defensive-minded player.