2017 Football Roster
Roster
Davis Neilands
- Height:
- 6-3
- Weight:
- 255
- Position:
- DE
- Class:
- Redshirt Sophomore
- Hometown:
- Park Ridge, Ill.
- High School:
- Maine South HS
First name is pronounced "DAH-vis" ... All-Big South candidate at defensive end … Enters 2017 as the starter at rush end … Gifted pass rusher who has packed on nearly 20 pounds since the start of the 2016 season … Long-armed athlete with good speed … Posted a 32.4-inch vertical during offseason testing … Has a chance to enjoy a breakout season in 2017 with additional snaps in store … Part of a very experienced and sturdy defensive line group ... Born in Latvia.
2016 at Gardner-Webb: Played in all 11 games as a redshirt freshman … Started the final three games of the season and showed great potential … Finished with 42 total tackles (18 solo), 4.0 tackles for loss (minus-21 yards) and 3.0 sacks (minus-20 yards) … Named Big South Conference Freshman of the Week and STATS FCS honorable mention national Freshman Performer of the Week following Gardner-Webb’s 17-10 win at No. 8 Charleston Southern (11/4) … Finished with 11 total tackles and a half sack in that game … Also had one quarterback pressure vs. the Bucs in a strong all-around defensive performance … Had five total tackles and 1.5 sacks in first career start at Liberty (10/29) … Came off the bench very early to finish with seven total tackles and a half sack vs. Kennesaw State (10/22) … Had four tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a half sack vs. Benedict (10/1) … Saw limited action early in the season, but finished with two hits in games at Elon (9/3), at Western Carolina (9/10) and vs. No. 15 Citadel (9/17). 2015 at Gardner-Webb: Redshirted.
High School: Plays at Maine South (Ill.) High under Coach David Insera … Earned All-Area honors on defense by the Bolingbrook Voyager newspaper … A first-team All-Conference selection and Conference Defensive Lineman of the Year as a senior … Earned second-team All-Area honors from the Chicago Tribune … Two-year starter … Finished senior season with 63 total tackles, 18.0 tackles for loss and nine quarterback sacks … Recovered three fumbles and batted down four passes … Blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown with 13.8 seconds left to lift squad to a comeback win over Montini (Ill.) High … Helped team to consecutive conference titles in 2013 and 2014 … Started 12 games as a junior and finished with 13.0 tackles for loss and five sacks … Named to the Maine South High All-Numbers Team, as the greatest player in program history to wear jersey #60 … Chose Gardner-Webb over Army, East Tennessee State, Butler and Dayton.
