March 18, 2024

PCM’s Davis will play football, study journalism at Simpson

Four years from now, you may read one of Gunnar Davis’ sports stories in a newspaper, magazine or on the Internet.

The Prairie City-Monroe senior has decided to study journalism and potentially become a sports journalist later on in life.

Along the way though, Davis will play a little football as he has decided to extend his football career at Simpson College.

The Storm recruited Davis as a right tackle, which means he will be guided by Simpson offensive line coach Pete Traynor. Traynor played collegiately at Iowa, had a brief NFL stint with the Green Bay Packers and played several seasons in the Arena League, including a few seasons with the Iowa Barnstormers.

“Simpson said they really wanted me, and I was getting a lot of texts from them,” Davis said. “They told me that I was one of the top guys that they wanted to come in. They had their wants and needs, and with me, they run a system there that we run here. They wanted someone who was versatile and could move a little bit.”

Davis said he was interested in Simpson before the 2015 high school football season began.

After the season ended, Simpson’s interest became mutual, and Davis also had interest from Central and Upper Iowa, the state’s only NCAA Division II school.

“I took a visit to Upper Iowa, and I just couldn’t see myself there,” Davis said. “I was sold though when I stepped on the Simpson campus.”

Davis is the current sports editor of PCM’s high school paper.

Davis even created a sports journalist-only Twitter account. So he has already started to plan for his future after football.

His long-term career goal is to be a beat writer for a college program or professional franchise.

Simpson’s head coach is Jim Glogowski, who will begin his eighth season this fall. Three former PCM Mustangs were on Simpson’s 2014 roster, including freshman wideout Ricky Reeve, sophomore defensive back Zach Uhlenhopp and senior defensive lineman Logan Van Veen.

Davis joins a program that hasn’t had a winning season since 2013 when they went 7-3. The Storm were 4-6 last year and 3-7 in 2014.