Through senior linebacker John-Glen Davis’ career at Waynesburg University, the team has struggled to win games.

Since Davis arrived at Waynesburg in 2015, the Yellow Jackets are 11-27 overall and 10-21 in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference. Despite shortcomings in recent years, the Yellow Jackets have had success at the linebacker position.

Last season, Davis and fellow linebackers Tristan Sandrosky and Brent Blacharczyk, who is now a graduate assistant at his alma mater, were named All-PAC honorable mention. Michael Heasley received the same honor in 2016, as did Aaron Palmer the year prior. This season, Davis, now a captain, is carrying the torch as the leader of the linebacker corps, following on a breakout junior season. He currently is second on the team and ranks seventh in the PAC with 57 tackles.

It was due to two of his predecessors, Blacharczyk and Sandrosky, that he was able to hone his leadership skills.

“They were always the guys I was following, doing what they were doing and I was just playing my game,” Davis said. “Coming in this year, when they were gone and I was the only [returning linebacker] and knew how it was, I had to really step into a role as a leader, be more vocal and just get out of my shell a little bit.”

Davis is in the center of another strong group of linebackers that features junior Tyler Smith. Despite his status as a captain, Davis doesn’t describe himself as a chatterbox.

This summer, he had to answer questions at the PAC’s Media Day, representing Waynesburg, and was not comfortable in that setting. For defensive coordinator Scott Venick, however, Davis does not have to say much to set an example for his teammates.

“He’s a doer, he’s not a talker,” Venick said. “I think that guys watch that and they see that. He doesn’t have to talk about it, because he’s presenting it with his actions. It’s always good to have a leader like that.”

As a graduate of Waynesburg Central High School, Davis did not have to travel far to pursue a college education and continue his football career. He decided to follow in the footsteps of his older brother, Dan, who was a junior tight end for the Yellow Jackets at the time for then-head coach Rick Shepas.

Although many students see college as a chance to distance themselves from home, geography did not make a difference to Davis.

“Going away, staying home, it didn’t matter to me, because you can make yourself as distant as you want,” Davis said. “You can be as close to home as you want or you can make it as far away even if you’re in the same town.”

Venick recruited both Davis brothers to play at Waynesburg. He described the younger Davis as a “great athlete” capable of playing both ways in high school. Right away, Venick knew that John-Glen would develop into a productive and unselfish contributor for the Yellow Jackets.

“We always knew he would be a very good player for us, and he’s a great teammate,” Venick said. “We knew when he was a freshman that he was going to be a great teammate. We knew he was going to be a good player [right away].”

After appearing in just five games as a freshman, Davis played in all 10 of Waynesburg’s contests in 2016 but was used in a reserve role. Last season, Davis established himself as one of the most important players on Waynesburg’s defense, leading the team in tackles, 91, tackles for loss, 57, and fumble recoveries with three.

Confidence hasn’t been an issue for John Glen-Davis in college, so he patiently awaited his opportunity, and learned from those who were playing ahead of him.

“I wasn’t in the program long enough, and I just needed to see what it was like, to see what the feel of the program was like and how everything goes,” he said. “So, it was nice going from seeing how great leaders are pulling other players along with them in the right direction to make the program go the right way. [It’s] helped me have the right mind and eyes to see what really needs to go on and how I really need to go after it.”

Davis came to college as a two-sport athlete, playing both football and baseball as a freshman. As a result of his baseball commitments, he wasn’t able to be with the football team for spring practices during his freshman year. Although Davis enjoyed baseball—he’s considering playing again this year—he decided to turn his attention solely to the gridiron.

“Football was just my main concern,” Davis said. “That’s where I was really focusing. That’s where I was excelling. That’s where my heart was at. I really wanted to play football, and missing [spring practices put me behind]. I was playing baseball. So, I really wasn’t in football mode [during the spring].

Venick said that Davis reminded him of a linebacker who was a standout on Waynesburg’s last winning team; Kyle Richie. Richie was a Division III All-American in 2014 and made one of the most famous plays in recent Waynesburg history when he blocked a field goal attempt in overtime to set-up the Jackets’ upset of Washington & Jefferson.

“They were both very active…” he said. “They’re playmakers, and we love playmakers on defense. We look to make plays within the structure of the system. That’s where John-Glen and Kyle Richie are two of a kind.”

Although Davis’ football career will end after this season, he still has a year of classes to take at Waynesburg and will graduate in the Spring of 2020. After he is done playing, Davis is considering watching the unit from the sidelines as a coach.

“Knowing the system here, he’d be a really good [coach] here…,” Venick said. “I think he would add a lot. I think he’s learned the game, and I think that’s one of the biggest parts of it. He’s learned the game more in the last three years. He’s bought in and understood it for the last two years, now he can convey to the younger guys. He does a really good job and I think he’d be an excellent coach.”

Venick described Davis as a “high energy” player and will miss his intensity on the field.

He’s left a mark here. He’s a very respected player here… hopefully, we can find another guy with a high energy motor and [is as] athletic as he is also… He’s definitely left a mark of being a great teammate, great player and great leader.”