BATON ROUGE, La. — The best wide receiver in the SWAC hit a milestone Saturday.
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff wide receiver JaVonnie Gibson’s breakout season continued to move up the record books during UAPB’s 31-9 loss at Southern.
The redshirt sophomore caught 10 passes for 85 yards, bringing his season total to 66 catches for 1,160 yards.
Only two players in UAPB (3-8, 2-5 SWAC) history have caught more passes in a season than Gibson, and he still has one more game to add to his total. He entered the game tied for sixth but stood alone in third place by the second quarter.
Gibson said this year’s production resulted from hard work.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
“I salute the people that’s in front of me, too,” Gibson said. “What they did was (an) amazing job, too. I just feel like it’s all coming to the light now.”
Willie Young caught 70 passes for 931 yards in 2016. Gibson, who has made six or more catches in every SWAC game this season, will have a chance to pass Young and finish with the second-best receiving season in UAPB history next week against Texas Southern.
The top spot remains solidly in Raymond Webber’s hands. He caught 101 passes for 1,429 yards in the 2010 campaign. He went on to sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent in 2011 and spent time with five NFL franchises.
UAPB Head Coach Alonzo Hampton was UAPB’s defensive coordinator when Webber played for the Golden Lions.
“Raymond Webber was a dog,” Hampton said. “He demanded triple-teaming, and we’re trying to get JaVonnie to understand that you’re going to get doubled. You’re going to get tripled. Find a way to make the plays count when you get your opportunity one-on-one. And so, I’m proud of him, man. He’s done a great job.”
Gibson’s 10 receptions against Southern ties him with several others for the sixth-most catches by a UAPB player in one game. Webber had three games with 11 catches during his 2010 campaign, while Young had a 12-catch game in 2015 and a school record 13-catch game in 2016.
Davis moves to linebacker
While injuries have continued to mount for UAPB, the Golden Lions turned to their one-time starting running back on defense Saturday.
Redshirt sophomore Johness Davis filled in at linebacker for UAPB against Southern (7-4, 6-1).
Hampton said with five linebackers injured, he needed someone else to fill a spot.
“You ask yourself, who is a guy that can get it done?” Hampton said. “That’s Johness Davis. He can play any position on this football team. He’s a team player. He went in there, had eight, nine tackles. The kid’s a football player, so that’s why we did it. Will he be a linebacker from here on out? I don’t know. We’re going to use Johness where we need to use Johness.”
The only natural linebackers UAPB had available were juniors Jaden Kelly and Mike Riley and freshman Derrick Murdock. The Golden Lions have dealt with injuries at the position all season but had additional absences Saturday, most notably sophomore Jaylen White.
Davis missed the Central Arkansas game with injury after carrying the ball 16 times in the first three games for 88 yards and two touchdowns. Since then, he has carried the ball just six times.
Instead, he started playing special teams. He made three solo tackles against Mississippi Valley State and one against Jackson State.
Davis said he, Hampton and linebackers coach Derek Rose discussed the idea of moving him to linebacker the week leading up to the MVSU game, and the additional injuries this week made this game the time to make the move.
“They told me a linebacker’s really just a running back on defense,” Davis said. “Coach, teammates, they teach me on the field. They make it easy for me.”
Davis made nine tackles in his linebacking debut, second only to Kelly’s 15. No other player from either team made more than five. Eight of his tackles were solo tackles.
He said he didn’t play defense in high school, but he thinks his experience as a running back helps him know how to defend other running backs.
“If you’re a running back and you got a puller, I know you staying inside your puller,” Davis said. “So, I’m a feel you outside, so you can force inside, and you’re coming back to all my defensive players.”