Zeroing in: Davis aims for Musketeers resurgence, leaving own QB legacy
· Yahoo Sports
GRAYSON With huge shoes to fill, Jasper Davis needed to be a bigger presence on the football field.
Former Greenup County quarterback Tyson Sammons casts quite a shadow after graduating from the program with over 10,000 career yards and becoming the school’s all-time leading rusher two seasons ago.
Visit tr-sport.bond for more information.
Musketeers coach Travis Jones handed the reins to Davis. As a junior, he encountered a few growing pains as he searched for a little daylight. Now, a season later, the senior signal caller has emerged from those shadows and provides a shine all his own.
Jones wants Davis to take last year’s weight on his shoulders and put it to good use. By the midway point, it’s clear the quarterback has become a sizeable obstacle for opposing defenses.
“I talked to Jasper after the Russell game (on Aug. 28) and told him that he’s still, at times, running like he’s 150 pounds,” Jones said. “There was a challenge the following week in practice. We don’t call a lot of design runs for Jasper. When he gets in the open field, he’s going to be bigger and stronger, for the most part, than all the secondaries that he will play.
“He’s a big, strong kid,” he added. “Go put your shoulder down and go forward. Don’t try to make everybody miss. He did exactly that (last week) against East Carter. There were times he tried to make that one last cut. Against the Raiders, he fell forward every time he ran the ball.”
Davis displayed his new physicality in Grayson, with the Musketeers driving late in the first half to extend a lead. He found an opening on the right side of the line. The defense appeared to have him wrapped up after a short gain, but Davis kept fighting. He broke a pair of tackles inside the 10 and carried a pair of defenders into the end zone.
The team gained six points, but Davis acquired something more: perspective.
“I’ve felt very comfortable this season,” Davis said. “We return our entire offensive line, and that really helps a lot when you don’t have to replace anybody. I just feel really good right now. I tacked on 20 pounds during the offseason, and that was a big goal for me. Last year, I got pushed around a little bit. It was a big goal, and it felt good accomplishing that.”
Davis takes on the challenge of oncoming tacklers, but accepting the ongoing task of following in Sammons’s footsteps to make strides each week and becoming the Musketeers’ new leader has been one of his best accomplishments, according to his coach.
“He really stepped up and accepted that challenge,” Jones said. “People know that we didn’t have a great year last year, and people could say then that they’re really missing Tyson. Jasper has always put his head down and got back to work. He’s proven that he’s a really good player for us too. I think he’s one of the best players in this area. He didn’t shy away from all at all. He’s led us for a year and a half.”
Jones doesn’t want his current quarterback to live up to anyone’s expectations. He needs Davis to be the best version of himself.
“It’s really a tough ask to follow a guy like Tyson,” he added. “Tyson is the best kid that I have ever coached, probably the best player in Greenup County history. We can’t ask Jasper to do exactly what Tyson did. Tyson was a running back playing quarterback. Jasper has been the quarterback his whole life. He’s the leader of our team. The guys listen to him in the huddle. He does a great job pushing us every single day. I’m really proud of Jasper.”
Davis said he gets his competitive nature from his predecessor.
“Tyson was a guy that you just knew was gonna make that play,” Davis said. “He was a mentor to me. It’s always in the back of my mind. Now, I want to be that guy who goes out and makes a play.”
Davis grew up as a dual-threat quarterback and can be equally productive on the ground or through the air. He accounted for 2,339 total yards and 25 TDs a season ago, and through four games in 2026, Davis is 32 of 45 for 635 passing yards, eight touchdowns and zero interceptions for No. 0. He also has five rushing scores.
Davis believes experienced teammates and a reenergized run game had aided the Musketeers’ early-season success.
“We’re a year older,” Davis said. “There’s a lot of growth on our team. I think we’ve all really bought in this season.
“Ashur (Wireman) really helps out the offense. Last year, we struggled running the ball. We now have four guys that can go in there at running back this year.”
Davis started his varsity career as a receiver. He’s calm in the pocket and now makes the necessary adjustments in the rushing game plan.
“Two years ago, Jasper played slot receiver for us,” Jones said. “It’s a big part of our offense. It allowed him to learn the passing game. We do a lot of read stuff in the running game, so there’s a learning curve there.
“It’s his improved ability to make the correct reads in the run game,” he added. “He’s going through his reads in the pocket and going to the check down. In four games, he’s taking care of the ball.”
Greenup County prepares for a daunting district schedule but seems to have an excellent chance to match its entire 2025 win total after five games. Friday night’s home game against Fleming County ended too late for this edition.
Davis enjoys his final season in a Musketeers jersey and hopes he’s made the same indelible imprint on the program as those who came before him.
“I want to instill in them a never-give-up mentality,” Davis said. “When you are down, you still have to fight and never give up.”