TIFTON — John Davis still has his senior baseball season to go, but he already has a plan for the future. Davis signed last Friday with Georgia Southern to play the sport.

Family tradition played a part in choosing Georgia Southern, said Davis, but also. “It felt like home.” He said he is considering studying education in Statesboro and becoming a coach.

Head coach Greg Williams highlighted Davis’ awards thus far: First team pitcher and outfielder, and Region Freshman of the Year in 2022. First team pitcher and outfielder, and Player of the Year in 2023. First team pitcher and outfielder, and Player of the Year in 2024.

“So, no pressure as a senior,” Williams joked.

Davis has started on the mound or in the outfield for his first three seasons. He’s led the team in strikeouts all three years and recorded nine wins as both a sophomore and junior. His ERA has been similar in both years, at 1.37 and 1.40.

As a junior, Davis went on quite an impressive tear, allowing only one earned run in 31 innings in Region 1-6A competition. That included a complete game masterpiece over Houston County that Williams called one of the best performances he’s ever seen.

Davis hit .433 as a sophomore, the first of consecutive years Tift County reached the elite eight in the state playoffs. He has five homers for his career. Davis should surpass 100 runs scored in his senior season. He has already recorded 100 hits.

“The work outside of practice, the long hours. In the batting cage by yourself, with Mom and Dad in the backyard playing catch with you,” said Williams. “This young man has put in the hours and put in the work in outside of what we require him to do to get to this point.”

Williams said Tift County baseball is “extremely blessed” to have Davis.

The 2024 Blue Devils team won the region title, their first since 2015 and only their second in 30 years. They reached the elite eight for the second consecutive season. Region titles haven’t been frequent for Tift or Tifton, but it’s something the Davis family has accomplished for three consecutive generations.

Davis said winning region was his best high school baseball memory.

John’s father, Russ Davis, a longtime coach and educator in the Tift system, had his own comments before his son signed.

Russ Davis thanked everyone for being in attendance. “You’ve all played a very important role in this,” he said. “We can’t appreciate you any more.” He said he hoped John would use this opportunity wisely. “This platform comes with a lot of responsibility,” he said.