Brotherly Love

Quarterback Nate Davis shatters his brother's passing yard and passing touchdown marks.

By Ryan Wood | Daily News Chief Reporter

Jose Davis sat down with his younger brother, Ball State University quarterback Nate Davis, ready to order lunch from Muncie’s Outback Steakhouse.

“You’re Nate’s brother?” the waitress asked after recognizing Nate Davis in his Ball State football apparel.

The question took Jose Davis off guard. The label was shocking.

Jose Davis is 10 years older than Nate Davis. He was a star athlete who played a couple seasons in the Arena Football League. He’s accustomed to living in the spotlight.

Being identified as “Nate’s brother” showed Jose Davis his role has changed.

“That’s the first time I’d ever been called that,” he says. “That’s when I knew my time had past me by. I’ve had my time. It’s time for me to move on now. The spotlight belongs to Nate.”

That certainly wasn’t the case when Jose Davis starred at Bellaire High School in Ohio. As Jose Davis received scholarship offers and earned state accolades — he was an all-state selection and runner up for Ohio’s Mr. Football his senior year — Nate Davis served as the team’s equipment manager. Nate Davis attended practices and stood on the sidelines during games, taking mental notes as he kept a close eye on his older brother.

“He’s a very big role model,” Nate Davis says. “I want to be like him. Any little brother wants to be like their big brother.”

It wasn’t always fun for Jose Davis to have Nate Davis as his shadow. When Jose Davis hung out with his friends at home, Nate Davis constantly wanted to be the center of attention.

Jose Davis constantly kicked Nate Davis out of his room, expecting the privacy every older brother demands. Nate Davis would resort to tattling on Jose Davis, trying anything he could to get his older sibling in trouble.

But as Nate Davis spent more time with Jose Davis, his older brother began rubbing off on him. Their mother, Linda Davis, has no doubt that Jose Davis had a major influence on Nate Davis.

“I think having Jose as a role model benefited Nathan a lot,” she says. “Nathan grew up seeing what Jose did and what you have to do to be successful. Nathan just followed in his brother’s footsteps.”

When Jose Davis arrived at Kent State University, his relationship with Nate Davis underwent a major face-lift. Their conversations changed from arguments to advice. Jose Davis even missed seeing Nate Davis and invited him to campus whenever there was a “little siblings” weekend.

Suddenly, Nate and Jose Davis became closer than words can justify, and that bond continues today.

Nate Davis says, “I can’t even explain it. Off the field, it’s like, he’s not even my brother. He’s like my best friend. I’d do anything for him, and he’d do anything for me. We talk at least two or three times a day — at least.”

As Nate Davis moved into high school, he played on the same football field his brother once dominated. From early in his career at Bellaire High School in Ohio, it was apparent Nate Davis had the ability to play at the collegiate level. He had every tool demanded of a college quarterback — impeccable arm strength, pinpoint accuracy and mature pocket presence.

The only problem was Nate Davis didn’t know whether football was the path he wanted to take. There was no doubt he had a passion for the game, but his first love was basketball.

Jose Davis says, “He’s just like me.” Jose Davis played on Kent State’s basketball team for two seasons. “If you put a basketball and a football in front of us, nine times out of 10 we’re going to pick up the basketball. I think he may have played football because they expected him to. He was always Jose’s little brother, and it was like, ‘Jose played, so you have to play.’”

It’s clear Nate Davis made the right decision to play football at Ball State. Midway through his career, he’s set the majority of single season and career passing records. Many consider the junior perhaps the best quarterback to ever grace a Cardinals’ jersey.

One of Nate Davis’ most meaningful achievements came earlier this season in the Cardinals’ 42-20 win at Indiana University. In the first half, he passed Jose Davis’ career passing yards mark of 6,722 yards. He also broke his brother’s passing touchdown mark in the same game on a 45-yard pass to sophomore receiver Myles Trempe.

Nate Davis says, “It’s special to beat my older brother. There’s been plenty of times when he’s beaten me.”

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