Defensive lineman Davion Wright had a rare vantage point late in Waukegan’s season opener Friday night.
Usually in the middle of the trenches occupying a sizable chunk of attention from opposing linemen, the 6-foot-2, 280-pound Wright was able to sit back and relax on the bench for the final three series while his teammates put the finishing touches on a rare win for the Bulldogs.
“I’m not really a selfish player. We were up pretty big,” Wright said. “It was nice to have a comfortable lead and have the guys who normally don’t play much get that same experience that I always do.”
It was indeed a welcome respite for a player who has a lot riding on his junior season.
As a committed team leader, Wright wants to help the Bulldogs compete on a consistent basis, well beyond their 22-0 nonconference win at Round Lake, which hosted the game instead of Waukegan in a late change. It was 2015 when the Bulldogs last won more than one game in a season — and last posted a shutout.
Playing to his considerable potential this season will likely begin attracting the attention of college coaches, too, as more and more tape becomes available.
“That’s a big deal for me,” Wright said. “My parents didn’t go to college. So me going to college and getting to do something I love would be an amazing thing.”
It doesn’t take an expertly trained eye to see Wright flashing. He seemingly spent as much time in the backfield as the Panthers’ running backs. He alternated making rapid penetration into the pocket on pass plays and disrupting rushing attempts by shedding blocks within an instant of the ball being snapped.
One such play midway through the third quarter, when the Bulldogs led 10-0, went a long way toward cementing Waukegan’s win. Round Lake had completed a long pass inside Waukegan’s 10-yard line, but Wright burst past his man on the next play to swallow the running back for a 5-yard loss.
“It kind of knocked our momentum off when they had the long pass,” Wright said. “As soon as I got that tackle, it seemed to turn up that notch we needed to stop them from scoring.”
That’s the type of game-changing play Wright is more than capable of making. Waukegan coach Zach Carr has seen it up close on the football field and also helps oversee Wright’s work in track and field. Wright qualified for the Class 3A state meet in the discus earlier this year.
“You just look at him, and it’s like a man among boys,” Carr said. “He works hard and wants to be as good as he can be. The sky’s the limit for him, and he’s going to make everyone else better along with him.”
Wright has plenty of strength to move players from their comfort zone and quickly gain the upper hand in one-on-one matchups. He also has harder-to-teach attributes that help differentiate him from a manhandler.
“I go hard 24/7,” he said. “I hate taking time off. Being able to move my opponent off balance is one of my best qualities, and I’m also very disciplined.”
Wright is also keenly aware there’s plenty of room for growth. He mentioned straight-line speed as an area he thinks would make him even better, whether that means chasing down a ball carrier into the second level or corralling a quarterback who is trying to scurry to safety from a collapsed pocket.
One area where Wright has already made big strides is keeping his composure, both on and off the field. When asked to comment on Wright’s overall progression, junior wide receiver Dame’ion Walker cut right to the chase.
“He used to have an attitude problem, but he got it together,” Walker said. “He would always lose his temper. He’s like a year and a half being clean there. We’ve been keeping him under control, and he’s a real team player. If he keeps evolving, he’ll really go somewhere.”
Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.