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Columbus Academy football's Gabe Davis-Ray heading to Northwestern
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- Columbus Academy football's Gabe Davis-Ray heading to Northwestern
Murmurs made their way through the crowd of approximately 150 during Columbus Academy's football signing ceremony Dec. 3 as athletic director Jason Singleton ticked off Gabe Davis-Ray's high school achievements.
And that was even before Singleton, himself a former basketball player at Ohio State , got to what the 6-foot-3, 185-pound Davis-Ray accomplished on the football field.
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A three-year letterwinner and co-captain in basketball, Davis-Ray helped the Vikings start 28-0 and reach the Division V state final last season.
In track and field, he set the program record of 48.55 seconds in the 400 meters when he finished fifth in the Division III state meet in June.
All of that was enough to awe those in attendance who saw Davis-Ray sign to play at Northwestern, where he will be a safety after four years of doing almost everything for Academy short of playing on the line. Davis-Ray had 22 offers and committed May 21.
"Definitely a very special day for me," Davis-Ray said. "Making that decision when I did (in May), I knew it was the right one. It's a blessing. They are turning things around. It's going to be great."
Columbus Academy's Gabe Davis-Ray runs the ball during an Oct. 3 game against Franklin Heights.
Gabe Davis-Ray leaves multifaceted legacy at Columbus Academy
To list what Davis-Ray, a three-star recruit, "usually" plays is to mention no fewer than four positions – cornerback, safety, running back and wide receiver. He also has played linebacker.
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This year's Division V district Defensive Player of the Year , Davis-Ray had 101 tackles, including 55 solo and 2½ for loss, with two interceptions, three pass breakups, five forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
He also ran for 744 yards and 12 touchdowns on 75 carries and made 30 receptions for 424 yards and seven scores.
But Davis-Ray's importance to the Vikings, who went 9-3 and reached a Region 19 semifinal, also was underscored by the fact that he started at quarterback in a season-opening 14-7 win at Northland.
Related story: Columbus Academy's Gabe Davis-Ray voted top football senior in central Ohio
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"He is just a chess piece," coach Robin Miller said. "We were down three guys ahead of him on the depth chart and he just said 'I'll do it.' He did great just because he is a competitor. He knows every position. He knows how to move guys around and get them in the right spot, and he has no ego."
A three-time first-team all-district honoree and three-year starter, Davis-Ray was third-team all-state as a sophomore and second-team as a junior. He has 38 total touchdowns, 251 tackles and six interceptions.
"Making my mark here is what I set out to do," Davis-Ray said. "I could not have asked for it to go any other way. I am blessed with the way this all went."
Columbus Academy's Gabe Davis-Ray, center, smiles during his signing ceremony Dec. 3. Davis-Ray will play college football at Northwestern.
What Northwestern is getting in Academy's Gabe Davis-Ray
Acknowledging the special draw of playing in the Big Ten for a Midwestern athlete, Davis-Ray is excited to join a Wildcats team that is bowl eligible for the second time in three seasons under coach David Braun.
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"I visited multiple times and got to see how I could see myself fitting in there and thriving," Davis-Ray said. "They had some tough losses this year, but they were good losses. They are headed in the right direction."
Miller did not rule out Davis-Ray becoming the same type of college player Chris Gamble was at Ohio State in the early 2000s. Primarily a cornerback, the position he played for nine years in the NFL, Gamble also was a wide receiver and kick returner, starting both ways five times for the 2002 national championship team.
"They will discover everything he can do," Miller said. "What sets him apart is just his drive, his character, his work ethic. He has been a once-in-a-lifetime kid for me to get to coach. …
"I've been in touch a lot with the Northwestern staff over the last year, year and a half, and I keep reminding them – they know how special of a player they are getting. They are getting an unbelievable human. We will miss him. Gabes don't grow on trees."
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High school sports reporter Dave Purpura can be reached at dpurpura@dispatch.com and at @dp_dispatch on X.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Academy football's Gabe Davis-Ray signs with Northwestern
