OXFORD - Ricky Davis made a career out of loud confidence, and his son has inherited enough of that edge to know exactly when his moment has arrived.
Terez Davis isn’t built like his father was in the NBA, but the belief is familiar. At 6-foot-4 and 300 pounds, the Ole Miss third-year offensive lineman said Wednesday after the Rebels’ first full pads practice of the 2026 season that the confidence is real, even if the swagger comes in a quieter package.
"I got a lot of self confidence and a lot of pride," Terez Davis said Wednesday following Ole Miss' first full pads practice of the 2026 season. "I don't like losing but I also remain humble, too. He's also taught me how to remain humble - not to lose but also remain humble always."
That mindset has helped carry Davis through a winding path to this point. He spent his sophomore year of high school following his father into basketball, then shifted to tight end as a junior at DeMatha Catholic before moving to offensive tackle as a senior. After one season at Maryland, he transferred to Ole Miss.
The transition to the line did not happen overnight. Last season, Davis spent most of his time behind Jayden Williams and Diego Pounds, playing sparingly while learning on the fly. He said the experience tested him, but he treated it as a chance to absorb everything around him.
"It was tough," Davis said. "I came in with high hopes, but I just tried to remain humble throughout everything.
I got hurt a little bit. I trusted God.
I knew my time would come. I just put my head down and kept working and just encouraged the guys in front of me and tried to be the best teammate I can.
"The way (Williams and Pounds) come in the building, the way they get work, the way they stay in the facility late watching film. Everything is just a mentality. Sometimes you're going to be hurt and sometimes you're not going to feel like going out there but they just kind of taught me to get past that and keep going every single day."
Now the wait is over. Davis has pushed himself into a key role on Ole Miss’ offensive front and has the left tackle job secured. He joins center Brycen Sanders and guards Patrick Kutas and Delano Townsend as part of the group tasked with protecting Trinidad Chambliss.
Davis says his physical gifts are obvious, but he also knows the job demands more than strength and movement.
"I feel like there's some stuff you really can't teach," Davis said. "It's just genetics.
That and my power are probably my best two attributes. I'm out there flying around, hitting guys, being physical and dominant."
The finer points of line play, though, were part of the lesson last season. Watching older teammates showed him how much the position depends on processing quickly and playing with precision.
"It's very important to know where to go and be able to play fast in this offense," Davis said. "That's the main goal."
His progress drew some attention in the tampering portal late last season, but Davis said he never seriously entertained the noise.
"I had a little but I wanted to stay here," Davis said. "I was committed to here.
(Ole Miss offensive line) Coach (John) Garrison, that's my guy. I've been with him since I came here and I don't like moving around.
I like staying in one place. I'm big on loyalty.
"It was crazy. I really didn't pay much mind to it.
I tried to stay with football. I didn't get into the transfer stuff much.
Once I get into something, I focus on what I'm focused on."
After a year of learning and waiting, Davis is now part of an Ole Miss team that believes it can make another deep College Football Playoff run. He said he always knew the ability was there - the challenge was turning raw tools into reliable technique.
"I knew I could do it," Davis said. "I've always known since I was a kid I had the athletic ability to do it.
It was really just focusing in on the technique and stuff like that. Talent can bring you so far."
Ole Miss opens the season Sept. 6 in Nashville versus Louisville, and Ricky Davis is likely to be there. His advice to his son sounds exactly like what you'd expect.
"He just tells me to go out and hit somebody," Terez Davis said, smiling. "He likes violence so he wants me to hit somebody. I try to make sure it's controlled violence so I get to the right guy."
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