It was two days before Navy met East Carolina, with the Mids looking to avoid starting the season in an 0-3 hole, when kicker Daniel Davies learned he had received the starting nod.
The senior had never attempted a field goal or extra point in his college career. Unfazed, he calmly went 3-for-3 against the Pirates, including a 43-yarder to force a second overtime period. In the next overtime session, Davies drilled the game-winner from 29 yards out to lift the Midshipmen to a 23-20 road win.
“Until you’re in that situation you don’t really know how you’re going to handle it,” he said recently. “It’s really cool helping the team get a win. It was big for us.”
Despite needing to hit his longest try of the day to force a second overtime, and feeling the pressure of lining up for an eventual game-winner, Davies said his nerves were highest when he lined up in the first half.
“The [operation] itself had never been out there, all three of us,” he explained, referring to the trio of long snapper, holder and placekicker. “There’s definitely a little nerves about the whole situation. Obviously, they did a great job and that gave me a lot of confidence.”
Davies also made both PATs during the Sept. 24 win. He was named American Athletic Conference Special Teams Player of the Week afterward.
“It just embodies who we are — resilient, tough young men. He’s been all-in,” Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo said of Davies. “He’s never complained about not kicking or punting or doing kickoff duties. He always comes to work every day. He’s a senior and he’s bought into ‘The Brotherhood.’ You couldn’t be more happy for a kid like that.”
Davies served as Navy’s punter as a sophomore in 2020. This year, he had been the holder for Evan Warren, who initially won the starting job when incumbent kicker Bijan Nichols suffered a leg injury shortly before the Midshipmen’s season opener.
“Two years ago I was punting. Last year I was mainly holding. You never really expect it to happen, but then it happens and you just have to be ready for it,” Davies said.
Transitioning from punting to placekicking was not too challenging for Davies. In fact, it was more difficult two years ago to assume the punting gig.
“I honestly viewed myself as more of a kicker even coming into school, so it was more of an adjustment to punt in the first place,” he said. “Now coming back, it’s more like my natural swing pattern. Just being a soccer player all my life, kicking is definitely more natural to me.”
Returning to the Naval Academy following his late-game heroics was unnatural.
“It’s pretty funny. My professors were kind of surprised. They’re like, ‘Whoa, I didn’t even know you were kicking,'” Davies said. “It’s definitely cool. I’m getting recognized and stuff, but I mean, I’m just trying to do the best I can for the team, get us a win.”
Doing what he can to help the Midshipmen win is all Davies has ever done — whether it be punting, holding or placekicking. Last season, he kicked a successful onside kick against Cincinnati.
“I think that’s one of the things that I kind of pride myself on. I’m in some ways someone that can be not a backup, but just kind of a swingman. If someone needs a punter, I’ll go punt or kick off, whatever it may be,” Davies said. “I remember in the spring, we had our exit interviews going into summertime and I told Coach [Niumatalolo] that I felt comfortable in all three. I’ve done all three in practice, but obviously not until now, kick field goals. I think that that was a huge thing that I bring to the table, just being able to do all three.”
Davies was a three-sport athlete at J.J. Pearce High School in Richardson, Texas, where his golf team won district and city championships. He can’t help but compare the two swings.
“It’s very similar,” Davies said. “My dad says it all the time: Kicking is a lot like golf. It’s a lot of technique. You don’t have to necessarily be the biggest guy to hit it the farthest — a lot of [it is] mechanics. It’s smooth swinging, trying to get good contact on the ball. It’s a lot like golf.”
Davies followed up his 3-for-3 game with a 1-for-2 showing against service academy rival Air Force on Oct. 1, connecting from 37 yards. He made his only PAT. He then went 3-for-3 with a 46-yarder against Tulsa on Oct. 8. He hit all six PATs. And against SMU on Oct. 15, he missed a 36-yard field goal but made all four PATs.
Niumatalolo said Nichols, a three-year starter and second-team All-AAC kicker, will likely retain his long-held starting job once he is 100 percent healthy. Until that day comes, Davies will continue to do what he always has — whatever he can to help his team win.
“Bijan and I are always talking. He’s one of my good buddies on the team. Obviously super, super unfortunate his situation, not being able to play as a team captain. We all look up to him and he’s one of our leaders, so he’s always right there helping me out,” Davies said. “I’m filling in a role for sure right now, but Bijan is a captain of our team. He’s a leader for us. He’s proven time and time again that he’s a reliable kicker and I’m happy being his holder. I love that spot just as much. But until that time comes, I’m going to do everything I can for the team.”
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Navy Athletics
Issue 277: October/November 2022
Originally published Oct. 19, 2022