Ah-Shaun Davis now looked at as leader as Lafayette Leopards starting QB
EASTON, Pa. — The Lafayette Leopards haven’t won the Patriot League since 2013 when they went 4-1 in the conference under head coach Frank Tavani and haven’t had an overall winning season since 2009. As is the case with most football teams at any level, the Leopards have been searching for a great starting quarterback.
Keegan Shoemaker, who was named Patriot League rookie of the Year in 2019, appeared to be set to lead the Leopards. However, he unexpectedly transferred to Sam Houston State, leaving the Leopards without a starting quarterback.
Knowing the need for a top quarterback, the Leopards recruited one of the top quarterbacks in New Jersey, Ah-Shaun Davis, who announced he would attend Lafayette on Sept. 2, 2020.
With the 2020 campaign wiped out due to COVID-19, the Leopards went with seniors Cole Northrop (602 yards, four touchdowns, three interceptions), and Sean O’Malley during the three-game spring 2021 schedule.
Davis led the Willingboro High School Chimeras to consecutive sectional titles, throwing for 2,600 yards and 38 touchdowns as a junior. He was a two-time All-County pick and Second-Team All-State as a senior. Davis threw for an impressive 4,241 yards and 54 touchdowns, both school records.
Davis started the 2021 season on the bench watching Aaron Angelos, sophomore out of Philadelphia. However, Angelos struggled, and in the ever-revolving quarterback door for the Leopards, Rent Montie started the following week against William & Mary. After throwing for only 188 yards and two interceptions on 41 attempts, the door shut on Montie and in stepped Davis.
The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Davis had some ups and downs in his first collegiate start against New Hampshire, completing 16-of-29 passes for 151 yards and an interception. He showed steady improvement in the game against Penn, completing 67 percent of his 18 passes for 157 yards and his first collegiate touchdown. Davis opened eyes in a big way last week against Fordham, completing 20-of-28 for 354 yards and two touchdowns. In three games, Davis is off to a great start, completing 48-of-69 for 703 yards and three touchdowns. The most impressive statistic is that Davis plays with the poise of a veteran, having been intercepted only once.
Athleticism runs in the family as Ah-Shaun’s cousin, Chris Long, is a freshman defensive back at Rutgers. Although a great start for Davis, he’s just scratching the surface as he strives to reach his full potential. If he does so, there will be a lot of great football over the next four seasons with possible multiple conference titles for the Leopards.
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