The Dallas Jackals signed their Round 1 Pick 10 in the 2021 MLR Collegiate Draft, DeCor Davis, for the 2022 Major League Rugby season. The 24-year-old No.8 is 6’2″ and 240 lbs.
DeCor was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, a small town outside of Pittsburgh, before moving to Virginia, outside of Washington, DC, where he started playing rugby in 6th grade at Warrenton Wolfpack Youth Rugby.
At Fauquier High School, he was a multi-sport athlete playing rugby, basketball, football, wrestling, lacrosse, and track. DeCor played the Eagle Impact Rugby Academy, however after sustaining an ankle injury, he chose to focus on rugby and wrestling in which he qualified to regionals, instead of football. Davis was named Virginia Rugby All-Star starter from ‘12-’16 going undefeated 3 of 4 years. Before his senior year of HS, he moved to play for Prince William Youth RC winning the 7s State Championship in Summer ‘16.
DeCor then attended Coastal Carolina University earning the first rugby scholarship in school history. He then transferred to Queen’s University of Charlotte in 2017 and helped the team win the D2 National Championship in 2019 after finishing 4th in their 2018 campaign. Also while at Queens, Davis was awarded top 150, 8-man in 2018 and 2019’. Decor graduated college in 2021 with a Bachelor of Business Administration and Management Degree.
Davis’ squad at Queens University is featured in the recent movie SCRUM, documenting Head Coach Frank McKinney’s reign as the first African American collegiate head coach.
Dallas Jackals Comments
He says his greatest achievement is graduating college because that was his late grandfather’s only wish. From his time at Virginia State Regional Governor’s School for Visual and Performing Arts his junior year of HS, DeCor is also a very skilled singer and plays piano.
“I’m most excited to learn from everyone,” Davis said. “Whether that be on the field from my teammates and coaching staff or from the front office; I want to really ingratiate myself into the Dallas-Fort Worth area and build a culture of hard work, grit, determination, and family.”
Davis went on to say he looks forward to pushing his limits to the highest level and is ready to hit the ground running. When asked about the move to Texas, “ I have never been to Texas… but have been told that the people of Dallas are great, love their sports and they make some mean barbecue so I am coming with an empty stomach and high expectations!”
GM Elaine Vassie says, “DeCor brings an unparalleled raw power & physicality underpinned with a drive for continued self-development. His outlook on the value of sport and rugby for children in the community and desire to have a positive impact on this makes him a truly exciting addition to our Jackals family.”
Welcome to the Pack DeCor!
Other Articles
DJCoil Rugby articles by Doug Coil are also available on Facebook. Other Social Media sites to follow or subscribe to include Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube for interviews.
