How Lewisville, Texas, has become a Jackson State football recruiting boomtown
Seeing 6-foot-7, 350-pound Jackson State freshman offensive left tackle Quaveon Davis explode out of his stance and run over an Alcorn State defensive back on a screen pass was frightening this past football season.
Davis, selected to the 2023 FCS Football Central Freshman All-American Team, proved to be a great signing out of Lewisville High in Lewisville, Texas.
Davis may have opened a pipeline from the school, located about 30 miles northwest of Dallas. In December, Jackson State signed three more Fighting Farmers.
And on Saturday, the Tigers signed another Lewisville standout. Javancy Jones, a former two-time All-American at Jackson State and the Farmers’ defensive coordinator, was hired to coach outside linebackers and be the special teams coordinator for T.C. Taylor.
Lewisville, with almost 4,300 students, competes in Class 6A, the largest of the University Scholastic League’s 11 football divisions. Odle has been the coach at Lewisville for seven seasons, going 12-2 in 2022 and 8-3 in 2023.
Jackson State is far from the only college to make recruiting trips to Lewisville. In addition to the three players who signed with the Tigers this season and Quaveon Davis last year, two Farmers cornerbacks signed with Oklahoma and Arizona State and a running back signed with Tulsa in December.
Odle said he has a great relationship with Taylor and knows Taylor is looking at several of his returning athletes.
Odle said what Jackson State is getting in Love is a dominant player who has a high IQ, is strong, and was the leader of the football team. Odle thinks Love can make an immediate impact with the Tigers.
Odle said Xavion Davis is a force, who has great feet and moves people. They do not make shoulders as broad as Davis, Odle said.
Davis had to lose about 50-pounds, Odle said. He has a ton of upside and is a really good athlete when you peel back the layers.
Odle said Terrell was a three-year starter and won 31 games over three years.
He’s very athletic, Odle said. The ball will snap out of his hands and he can hurt you with the run and pass and is a dynamic player. He rushed for 1,000 yards as a junior and has untapped potential.
Odle said once Quaveon Davis came to JSU and had success, it opened up the door for other Lewisville athletes. The coaching staffs have built trust with each other, he said.
I could see all of my kids contributing to Jackson State football, Odle said. It has been nice getting to know Coach Taylor and his staff, and getting our kids in a good place and that is what we want to do. And Jackson State is that.
Lewisville, Texas, has become a football recruiting boomtown for Jackson State. The success of freshman offensive left tackle Quaveon Davis, who was selected to the 2023 FCS Football Central Freshman All-American Team, has opened up a pipeline from Lewisville High to the college. In December, Jackson State signed three more players from Lewisville, and the Tigers continue to scoop up top talent from the area. The recent hiring of former two-time All-American Javancy Jones, who is now coaching at Lewisville, further solidifies the connection between the two. Head coach Michael Odle is proud to see his athletes find success academically, athletically, and socially at Jackson State, and believes that more of his players will contribute to the program in the future.
The recruitment success in Lewisville extends beyond Jackson State, as other colleges have also discovered the talent in the area. In addition to the players who signed with the Tigers, cornerbacks from Lewisville have committed to schools like Oklahoma and Arizona State, while a running back has signed with Tulsa. Coach Odle maintains a strong relationship with Jackson State’s T.C. Taylor and knows that Taylor is interested in recruiting more athletes from Lewisville.
Coach Odle has high praise for the players heading to Jackson State. He describes offensive lineman Devin Love as a dominant player with a high IQ, and believes he will have an immediate impact with the Tigers. Xavion Davis, brother of Quaveon Davis, is also highly regarded, with exceptional footwork and strength. Ethan Terrell, the dual-threat quarterback, has shown great athleticism and versatility on the field, making him a promising prospect.
The success of Quaveon Davis has paved the way for other Lewisville athletes to consider Jackson State, demonstrating the trust and relationship between the coaching staff at Lewisville and Jackson State’s. Odle believes that more of his players will find success at Jackson State, both academically and athletically.
Lewisville, Texas has become a thriving hub for football recruiting, attracting the attention of colleges like Jackson State. The talent and dedication displayed by the athletes from Lewisville High School have garnered national recognition, opening up opportunities for their future athletic and academic endeavors.
