Sept. 7, 2005

BELLINGHAM, Wash. -

JOE SUNNEN, THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

There is still a little bit of high school linebacker left in Western Washington University redshirt freshman Steve Davis.

Except these days he's delivering hits from the strong safety position.

"It's a little different playing so far back," Davis said. "Most of my tackles are coming after the initial hit. I'm just the guy there playing clean-up."

Davis leads the Vikings in tackles with 18 through the first two games of the season.

"Right now I'm loving it," Davis said. "I was pretty nervous that first game, but I'm getting more comfortable."

The 5-foot-9, 190-pounder from Kennewick had 12 tackles in his first career start against Mesa State College and followed that up with three solo tackles and three assists against Washburn University last Saturday.

"Steve is a good athlete and a smart football player," WWU coach Rob Smith said. "We recruited him heavily out of high school. We knew he would be a player here for a number of years."

The Vikings first heard about Davis from former WWU quarterback and then Kamiakin coach Scott Mitchell. Davis played linebacker and quarterback in high school under Mitchell and helped the Braves to the 4A state quarterfinals in 2003.

"Scott told us that he was one we must have," Smith said. "After we watched the tapes and agreed with Scott's evaluation, we went after him." Davis was named defensive scout team player of the year last season for the Vikings and took over the starting safety position during spring practice.

Sometimes he still finds himself playing with the mentality of a linebacker.

"Just having that experience with the physical part of the game has helped me a great deal," Davis said. "As a linebacker I learned how to come downhill and make a tackle; now maybe I do that a little too much."

It's also helped Davis to have junior free safety Todd McClellan playing next to him. McClellan, fourth on the team in tackles with 10, is a two-year letter winner.

"Todd's a veteran and he really helps me out," Davis said. "Every game I'm learning something new, and when there are little things I'm not sure about he kind of fills things in for me."

Notes: Injuries are once again hurting the Vikings. Senior running back Duncan Sherrard is awaiting an MRI to find out the severity of a knee injury he sustained over the weekend and sophomore receiver Chris Robinson could be out for up to a month with a hamstring pull. ... Redshirt freshman Junior Aumavae was taken from practice in an ambulance on Tuesday after suffering from what was believed to be heat stroke. His condition is not known at this time ... The temperature on the field for last week's game against Washburn was more then 100 degrees.