When Towson University football coaches visited former Mervo quarterback Carlos Davis’ home, his mom had no idea he would be committing to play for his hometown team.
But when she realized Davis was going to suit up for Towson, giving him the chance to play his first football game in Maryland since 2017, she had a huge smile and was almost brought to tears.
“I just feel proud, joyful,” said Carlos’ sister, Mia Davis. “It was just exciting knowing how hard he always worked now that he can play at one of the schools at home in front of his family and friends. Just proud of him, seeing his growth and his accomplishments.”
His mom, Chardrie Snider, has only seen Davis play in person once since he started college. She traveled more than 550 miles to see Western Carolina’s October 2021 homecoming game. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound graduate student threw for 221 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions against Mercer.
Davis is unlike most college football players. He’s played at community colleges, Football Championship Subdivision school Western Carolina and Football Bowl Subdivision school University of Massachusetts. With his one year of eligibility left, he decided to go home.
“I’m very excited for him to come home and play at Towson,” Mia Davis said. “He never had a chance to play in front of family or his friends. He’s always just been so far from home, so I’m very excited.”
When Carlos Davis announced he was in the NCAA transfer portal Nov. 27, he wasn’t sure where he’d end up. He had offers from Houston Christian, Alabama A&M, Charleston Southern, Morgan State and others. But once he received an offer from Towson, he knew he wanted to come home and play in front of his family, friends and Mervo coaches.
When he steps onto the field for Towson’s 2024 home opener against Morgan State on Sept. 7, it will be the first game he’s played in Maryland since he graduated from Mervo in 2017.
Davis was part of one of Mustangs coach Patrick Nixon’s first classes. Mervo football was a rebuilding program at the time. As a result, it was not catching the attention of college recruiters.
But even in high school, where Davis led Mervo to back-to-back Baltimore City championships, Nixon could tell Davis was a special player and that he would be a good addition, on and off the field, for a college team.
Davis described his experience with the Mervo program as great and said it helped prepare him to work hard. It also gave him the mental toughness to compete at the college level.
Coming out of high school, Davis said he wanted to go somewhere far away from Baltimore. It’s why he’s played in Kansas, Mississippi, North Carolina and Massachusetts.
He’s changed, though, and looks forward to playing for Towson in front of the hometown crowd.
“I grew up a lot actually, from being 18 going to [Fort Scott Community College in] Kansas and all these other stops,” Davis said. “I’m a grown man now, so I’ve handled anything that has come my way. I won’t be distracted here.”
In addition to Davis’ mom and sister getting to see him play more, Nixon will also have the opportunity to watch Davis play. Even before committing to Towson, Nixon promised Davis that he would get out to one of the quarterback’s game during his final year of eligibility, wherever it may be.
“They’re getting an absolute gamer,” Nixon said. “They’re getting a leader, a competitor, you’re getting somebody that’s going to give everything he has on the football field, and he’s giving you somebody that you would want the rest of your teammates to model themselves after.”
Towson coach Pete Shinnick sees something similar in Davis. While Nathan Kent, the Tigers’ starting quarterback last year, is returning, Shinnick is ready to see the competitiveness and experience Davis brings to the quarterback room.
When Davis entered the transfer portal and left Western Carolina a year ago, Towson was interested in him, but he went to UMass. This time around, Shinnick made sure he chose Towson.
Shinnick’s pitch was precisely what Davis was looking for: to come home and finish his college career in front of friends and family.
The second-year coach said he and his staff try to recruit heavily inside a three-and-a-half-hour loop around Towson. During the early signing period in December and the first day of the national signing period Feb. 7, Towson added 24 incoming freshmen and transfers, including Davis. Of the 24 student-athletes, 13 are from Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, New Jersey or Pennsylvania.
Last season, 11 student-athletes from Maryland were named to All-Coastal Athletic Association teams. None of them played for Towson. Shinnick, who was born in the city as the son of a former Baltimore Colts linebacker, hopes that bringing in Davis will continue to forge a path to attract local recruits.
“Hopefully, it raises their awareness of who we are and what we’re trying to do,” said Shinnick, who previously led University of West Florida to a Division II national championship. “We’ve tried to hit every school in the state of Maryland. … Anytime we can get a transfer to come back home, it just broadens people’s awareness as to who we’re trying to get and what it looks like.”
Davis enters the Towson program after throwing for 886 yards with six touchdowns and three interceptions in four games last year at UMass. He’s looking forward to playing in front of his hometown at Johnny Unitas Stadium.
“I’m going to be super pumped,” Davis said. “First game back in Baltimore since 2017, so I know there’s going to be a huge crowd and a lot of support for me there. I’m looking forward to the atmosphere and just making plays for the team to win.”
Massachusetts Athletics
Carlos Davis threw for 886 yards with six touchdowns and three interceptions in four games last year at UMass. (Massachusetts Athletics)