An elite competitor, Vinson Davis III ranks among the best receivers in school history (Part 2)

CARBONDALE, Ill. — When Vinson Davis III arrived at SIU in 2023, all he asked for from the coaching staff was an opportunity. The Charleston Southern transfer didn’t need any assurances about playing time. An elite competitor, he trusted himself.

Thirty-five games later, that confidence has paid off. Soon, he’ll move into the top-5 in career receiving at Southern Illinois. His career numbers are impressive — 143 catches, 1,766 yards, nine touchdowns. He leads the conference with 653 receiving yards in 2025, and is on a pace to become just the second receiver in school history to surpass 1,000 yards in a season, joining Cornell Craig.

In Part Two of his story, Davis III talks about his development under receivers coach Zach Grant, his relationship with Coach Hill, competing in practice against future NFL safety PJ Jules, returning to SIU for his senior season, and his future plans.

Read Part 1: After losing his father and brother, Vinson Davis III finds his purpose in serving others

SD: After you arrived in 2023, how did you and receivers coach Zach Grant determine what your role with the Salukis would be?

VD: I told him that I’m just coming here to work. However you want to use me on the field, I'll just make the most of my opportunities. I don't have to start or anything like that. I just came here and worked and opportunities opened up for me.

SD: What were some of the highlights from your sophomore season in 2023?

VD: That win over Northern Illinois, being an FBS school, I feel like that was a great game to be a part of. Not even statistically for myself, but just as a program and as a team. I feel like we needed that confidence going into the conference season. The top teams in the league, we played all of them tough, and then obviously the playoffs, ending the season the way it did in the second round of the playoffs at Idaho. We were 10 seconds away from winning that game on a field goal. I feel like we definitely had a shot to win it all that year.

SD: It was a big year for you personally, too, leading the team in catches and making the all-conference team.

VD: However I'm used on the field, it just so happened that I was able to get the blessings that season of being able to lead the team in catches. That was a great team season with just getting to the playoffs, winning the first playoff game at home in school history.

What stands out to me when I look back at that season and remember the great players that we had — two guys on that team that are in the League now. PJ (Jules) is probably the best DB that I've ever played against in my life. The practices were so competitive. He came to work every day and had the same mentality as me, never wanting to lose a rep. In 1-on-1s, there were times we went two or three times in a row, just because he didn't want to finish with me beating him. It was like that every time and that's what made our team better.

Davis III is approaching 2,000 career receiving yards.

SD: Your junior year brought challenges for both the team and yourself.

VD: Yeah, it was a tough year, especially going into that season with DJ Williams at quarterback and having high expectations for what I feel that we should have been as a team. I also had some class conflicts that affected me practicing and coming in to watch film. Playing four quarterbacks, that's gonna be hard for any team. You're getting all the reps with DJ, then you're with Hunter (Simmons), then you have Jake (Curry), and at the end of the season, you get the reps with Mike (Lindauer). That injury bug was definitely tough on us last season, but there were still fun times, too, playing with those guys.

SD: After the season, why did you enter the transfer portal?

VD: I was hesitant, because I love it here, but for my last season, I was really just trying to make the most of it. Prior to going in, I had some schools interested in me, but you never know until you actually get in there. You never know how credits will line up as far as graduation, so it didn’t make sense to go anywhere and add two years to my graduation.

SD: Ultimately, you decided to return to SIU. Tell me about that decision.

VD: I really just wanted to play ball again, however it came to me. There was no bad blood leaving here at all. It was always love and will always be that. If you talk about a receiver coach, I'll pick Coach Grant out of all of my coaches that I've had in my career. Same thing with Coach Hill. He helped me get my first car. He noticed I was always taking the bus or riding with my roommate. It wasn’t an NIL thing, it was just the love of his heart. So I also felt the need to bring that trust and love back to him for my last year. I’m aware I’m an undersized player, and Coach Hill always believed and trusted in me no matter what.

SD: Since you’ve been back, explain how you’ve taken an even greater leadership role.

VD: Earlier in my career, I was a little more quiet with it, you know, just do my job and lead by example. This time around, I’m making sure that the guys get it right. At practice, for instance, if a play is called, I’m gonna ask and make sure that they know it before we go out there and mess up a play. I try to make sure they have all the tools I can give them. For instance, a young guy like Tristen Payne, I feel like he could be a great player. I’m making sure I give him everything I’ve learned through the four years that I've played, making sure all those guys are ready when their time comes.

Davis III leads the MVFC with 653 receiving yards.

SD: You’re having one of the greatest seasons by a wide receiver in school history. What have you done to elevate your game?

VD: I’m really just playing free, trying to take advantage of all my opportunities, knowing that this could be my last time playing football, trying to go into every pass play or every run played like it is going to be my last. So every opportunity I touch the ball, I'm trying to score. At 5-foot-8 and 175, I’m not the biggest player, so you got to be explosive out there, and you got to be special. For my family and friends, and the fans, I want them to say, “Vinson Davis III, every time he touched the ball, it was something.”

I’m trying to be the best at my craft. I’m watching much more film than I have in previous years. I feel like I know what's gonna come to me before we even get to Saturday, what a defender is best at and where I can attack.

SD: You mentioned being 5-foot-8, do you have a chip on your shoulder as a guy who's on the smaller side?

VD: I wouldn’t say it’s a chip on my shoulder just because of my size, but also just where I’m from and how I was raised. You have to stand out because there’s so many good players in college football as well as in our wide receivers room alone. My mom always taught me to go at the best players to become exactly that. That’s always stuck with me.

SD: Are you aware how close you are to being in the top-5 in school history in receiving?

VD: I didn't know the career aspect. That's special, man. I went into college making sure I got a Division I offer, so I didn’t have to pay for school. Now, I’m working as hard as I can to get to the next level. It's definitely special being up there with those top guys.

SD: Do you want to keep playing football after you're done with SIU?

VD: One-hundred percent. It's just what I've always been about. While I was at home, I got my first real 9-to-5 job, but there’s nothing like football. I just feel like it's meant for me, whether it’s playing it or coaching it, just being around the game brings joy to me.

After losing his father and brother, Davis III has taken on the responsibility of "man of the household."

SD: What was your 9-to-5 job?

VD: I worked at Crunch Fitness as a personal trainer, and then I worked for GMS Connect. I answered telephones, talking to older people with health problems and sending them kits. It was a desk job.

SD: What about life after football?

VD: I remember meeting with Coach Grant when I first came here, and he asked me the same question. I could definitely see myself coaching. I’ve been at every camp here, helping out the coaches. Even back at home, I was training kids at the field on Saturdays or even after work while having my job. It’s definitely in me to help others in this game. I've been playing for so long that I feel I could definitely assist people in this game, and that's just what I love to do.

SD: It seems like you’ve found your purpose in life.

VD: Like I said, I understand that everything happens for a reason. Football has taught me a little bit about patience. Even once I got good at it, now I'm training the younger guys and stepping into a leadership role. I feel like all of the things I went through with my home life have shaped me, just as far as being a leader and not being afraid to help people.