MISSOULA — Most players don’t become household names overnight.
Especially at the college level, it takes time for newcomers to find their footing, lose the initial nerves and gain the necessary confidence to perform at a high level.
In receiver Brooks Davis’ second collegiate game, he became a household name. A two-reception, 8-yard game against Central Washington in the season opener preceded his breakout against North Dakota: five catches, 98 yards and two scores.
Quarterback Keali’i Ah Yat found Davis for a 24-yard strike in the third quarter, drawing the Griz within two after trailing 16-7 at halftime. But the second score, a 28-yard toss with 95 seconds remaining in the game, tied the game before an ensuing PAT gave the Griz a one-point lead.
Davis saw a quieter matchup against Indiana State, catching just one ball for 1 yard. So far, though, history would suggest Davis shows up for the big ones. With a top-10 matchup on deck in Wa-Griz, Davis could be primed for another big game.
Davis sat down with 406 MT Sports prior to No. 5 Montana’s Big Sky opener against No. 8 Idaho on Saturday in Washington-Grizzly Stadium. This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
Q: What do you think was the biggest crowd you had ever played in front of before coming to Missoula?
A: I’d probably say one to two thousand.
Q: I ask that because I’m sure there is an adjustment period in your first few collegiate games to the added atmosphere and intensity, especially in a place like Wa-Griz. Has anything about the crowd and the energy surprised you, and what has been the biggest change for you?
A: I would probably say the excitement that it brings. Running out of that tunnel is insane, there’s really nothing like it, even compared to high school. I think it helps with the adrenaline, momentum, it kind of gives you something to play for. I feel like, in front of these diehard fans, it gives you something to play for. And it kind of just pushes me a little bit more.
Q: Has the noise been something you’ve needed to adjust to at all?
A: No, it honestly wasn’t as bad as I thought. I kind of zoned it out right once we got on the field, I didn’t really hear it.
Q: Those touchdown catches against North Dakota, what’s going through your mind at the time?
A: Well, at first, it was just running my assignment, executing and then scoring. It was nothing I’ve really experienced before, it was crazy. That’s when I really heard the crowd. Once I scored, yeah, I really heard the crowd roars.
Q: Is there any way to describe that feeling of hearing the crowd after such an important score for anyone who hasn’t played D-I football?
A: I really think there’s nothing really like it. You kind of have to be there to experience it. I feel like I can’t really describe it, it’s so unreal.
Q: You got into football a lot later than most other D-I players. Was there any moment or game in the early stages of your playing career where your attention shifted from baseball and you really began to see a future with football?
A: Once I really picked it up, you know, got pretty fundamentally sound, I started beating kids and learning how to actually play the game the right way, instead going out there and using my speed and running. That’s when I started to kind of fall in love with it and actually learning the game of football.
Q: What do you think you learned the most from your redshirt season at Montana?
A: Just learning the game of football even more, going up against our starting defense, listening to (Montana offensive coordinator Brent) Pease. Sitting in meetings, just writing everything down that he has to say, you know, talking to him after talking with the older guys, watching film with Keelan White — great guy. He taught me a lot. I feel like just following in their footsteps.
Q: You scored a 69-yard touchdown in Montana’s spring game earlier this year, do you think that helped boost your confidence at all?
A: I mean, I always kind of felt like that coming into it, that I could be a contributor on this team. But I feel like that touchdown kind of felt like the hard work was paying off a little bit.
Q: Where do you feel like you grew the most as a player this summer?
A: Learning the concepts, not just knowing I’m just going to run this route but kind of why I’m running this route to get another guy open. Knowing what everyone else is running, just learning more and more.
Q: What’s been your adjustment to Missoula coming from California?
A: Definitely the weather. I’d probably say it being super cold, that was probably the biggest challenge, especially playing with it. Having to walk from the dorms to lift at 5 a.m. when it’s like zero degrees, my hair freezing, that was the biggest thing.
Q: What do you do in your free time?
A: Back home, I really like surfing and skateboarding. I kind of grew up surfing, skateboarding, snowboarding, so a lot of outdoor stuff. Here, it’s kind of more football-based. A lot of recovery, you know, just chilling at home. During the winter last season, I did snowboard a lot, especially during away games when I wasn’t traveling with the team. But I’d probably just say hanging out with friends and recovery.
Q: Do you have any favorite ski slopes in the area?
A: I was at Lookout Mountain. That was really the only one I went to since the season pass was so cheap. I know Snowbowl is pretty close, but the pass was pretty expensive.
Q: What type of music do you listen to?
A: I really like reggae. I like R&B, rap. I kind of listen to it all. I’ve adopted country. I told myself I’d never really listen to country music until I got here, and now it’s actually pretty good.
Q: Was there someone on the team that put you on to the country music?
A: I would probably say Luke Flowers. He was my roommate in the dorm, so he was playing a lot of country. Torin Jeske, those two guys I hung out with a lot, and they played a lot of country music.
Q: Do you have a game this season you’re most excited for?
A: Obviously against the Cats, not too much to say there, but also Sac State. It’s kind of my hometown. I think that will be a big game. I got a lot of people going to that game.
Carson Cashion is a sports writer for 406 MT Sports. Follow him on X @CarsonCashion or contact him at carson.cashion@406mtsports.com.
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