Kamehameha-Hawaii graduate Pono Davis isn’t talking, but he is not to be confused with Marshawn Lynch, the mercurial Seattle Seahawks star who showed up at the most recent Super Bowl media day only to repeat the same answer to each question: “I’m here so I won’t get fined.”
Davis’ silence stems from the fact that in his mind there’s still too much work to be done.
“He’s too humble,” his father, Kevin, said. “He said, “I’ll talk when I go Division I.”’
A lot went right for Pono Davis during a senior season in which he secured BIIF Division II Defensive Player of the Year honors for the league champion Warriors and won a BIIF wrestling title.
Though Davis did not land a free ride to play either in the Football Bowl Subdivision or Football Championship Series, the college auditions are far from over.
A two-way terror in the BIIF, Davis is focusing on the defensive line at Tyler Junior College in East Texas with a full scholarship in hand.
“A whole new world,” Kevin Davis said. “We took planes, trains and automobiles to get there.”
If everything is bigger in Texas, then that certainly applies to football. One of Tyler’s primary goals is to churn out players for four-year schools.
The same Tyler release in February that lists Davis as one of 38 signees also highlights the 19 players who moved on to four-year schools. Many found a home playing major college football.
“I think another year or two of him working on his academics and getting to a place where he can compete every day is going to be very beneficial to him,” Kamehameha coach Dan Lyons said, “A very talented kid, and going up against other talented kids is going to be very beneficial to him.”
In the college football world, the eyes of Texas (and beyond) are watching Tyler.
“Texas Tech was inquiring about Pono,” Kevin Davis said. “I think they assume they get to see him up close now.”
The Apaches’ football Web page also lists 43 alums who went on to play in the NFL.
When Pono, 6 feet 2 inches, 285 pounds, came back recently — albeit briefly as to not miss practice — for sister Kasey’s wedding, Kevin Davis said a change in his physique already was noticeable.
“Pono is the kind of kid that his highest ceiling is where he puts his mind to it,” Lyons said. “Great determination and he definitely has a defensive attitude.”
Athletics run in the Davis bloodlines, and one of Pono’s goals was to be near his brother, Paka, who walked on to the Texas Christian football team last year and is studying on an academic scholarship. After redshirting last season and getting to travel with the Horned Frogs to their 40-3 romp against Ole Miss in the Peach Bowl, Davis is listed on TCU’s roster this season. The Horned Frogs are on the short list of national title contenders entering the season.
Lyons coached all four of Kevin and Donna Davis’ children at Kamehameha. Donna Davis is an assistant water polo coach under Lyons.
Newlywed Kasey Kahea, a 2008 graduate, went on to play water polo at St. Francis in New York, and Nani (2009) wound up at Whittier (Calif.) College, playing a year of water polo before switching solely to soccer (she was a captain as a senior).
Kevin Davis also has a daughter, Kelly, from a previous marriage who played soccer at Philadelphia University.
The nest now empty, Kevin Davis may be ready to fly off as well.
“I’m ready to move to Texas, already,” he said. “My wife thinks I’m crazy.”