Auburn Commit and Legacy Stephen Davis Jr. Focused on 'Playmaker' Status

Auburn commit Stephen Davis Jr. is one of those athletes who, when asked if he wants to play safety or linebacker in college, has a simple answer.

Reason being, Davis wants to play safety. And linebacker. And wide receiver. And any other position a college coach will let him. For Davis, the nation's 17th-ranked athlete in the class of 2016 and the No. 5 player from the state of South Carolina, according to 247Sports, taking a play off during his senior year won't be a part of his plan.

"If there are 100 plays this year, I'm going to be on the field for all 100 plays," Davis said. "I have to be in the best shape I can, because I'm not coming off the field, honestly."

Lofty expectations indeed, but consider the source and what he's done on the field. Defensively, the Irmo, South Carolina, standout had 66 tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery as a safety for Dutch Fork High School. He also saw time sparingly on offense, but in his eight rushing attempts, he scored three times and averaged a whopping 19.5 yards per carry, according to MaxPreps.com.

A 3-star athlete and the son of the former NFL running back with the same name, Davis considers himself the consummate playmaker. If he's not on the field, he's unable to make plays. To him, it's simple mathematics.

While it may not be as simple for most to comprehend, you can bet that Davis will lobby to the Dutch Fork coaching staff to see as much game time as possible. You can also bet that he'll see extended playing time as a senior.

Davis' play last Saturday is proof that he can be a major contributor. He worked out with the safeties during The Opening Charlotte regional and put a performance together worthy of wowing The Opening coaching staff and earning an invitation to the event finals this summer in Oregon.

"I just wanted to show that I can be a playmaker," he said. "Right now, I'm just playing safety, but I feel like I can play a lot of places in college."

At 6'4" and 215 pounds, Davis has the size, speed and skill set to effectively play outside linebacker, wide receiver or flex tight end at the next level. Davis added that playing defensive end or running back wouldn't be far-fetched, either.

"People say I look like a linebacker, so I may try linebacker in college," he said. "I'm going to play linebacker for my high school."

Playing multiple positions is the easy part for Davis. The hard part will be trying to match his father, who had an illustrious high school and college athletic career. The elder Davis rushed for more than 2,800 yards and 30 touchdowns in his career at Auburn from 1993-95 and then went on to become a three-time NFL Pro Bowl selection, a two-time NFC rushing leader and a catalyst who competed in Super Bowl XXXVIII.

Davis said he's often compared to the elder Davis, but the support he gets from his father is valued.

"He tells me what I should and should not do," the younger Davis said. "He keeps it simple and honest with me. That's what I love about him. He keeps it real.

"It can be hard sometimes, but it can also be fun. I know that people expect so much out of me because of who he is. For me being 16, they expect me to do a lot of stuff that some college people can't do. But I expect it out of myself. I know I can go out and compete and be that playmaker."

Davis has one more season at Dutch Fork, and then he'll prepare for college life, where he said he'll study law enforcement. The question, however, is, where?

Davis has been committed to Auburn—his father's alma mater—since Aug. 4, 2014, and he's still high on head coach Gus Malzahn, defensive backs coach Travaris Robinson and the rest of the coaching staff. On Saturday, however, Davis said he's only "70 percent" with his commitment and is looking at potential visits to Florida State, Clemson and UCLA.

"It's not just about the trips," Davis said. "I want to know how they are as a school and as a program. I'm not going to always play football. I want to see what I can major in and what the campuses are like and if the environments there are good around the schools."

While he weighs his options, Davis reiterated that he's still committed to Auburn and forever will be a fan regardless of what happens in the future. He knows the program well because of his father, and being a legacy is something he always thinks about.

A memorable return trip to Big Cat Weekend later this month could help bump that "70 percent" to a more comfortable number for Auburn fans. Davis said he's looking to make the trip to Auburn May 30.

"Auburn is family; it's like home for me," he said."It's a great environment. When you go down there, there's always something new. I just love it."

Damon Sayles is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. All quotes were obtained firsthand. All player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports' composite ratings. Follow Damon via Twitter: @DamonSayles