CHICAGO — Being the son of a former Chicago Bears wide receiver has its privileges.
So says Cal Poly redshirt freshman running back Malcolm Davis, son of ex-Bears wideout Wendell Davis.
Part of Malcolm Davis' Chicago upbringing included trips with his dad to Bears conventions, where he hung out with other former NFLers. Many of those players' children, including current Northwestern WR Cameron Green (son of ex-Bears RB Mark Green) are his good friends.
"It's great having those type of relationships," said Malcolm Davis, whose Cal Poly team (1-2) travels to Montana State on Saturday.
Wendell Davis actually played running back as a youth before switching to wide receiver before high school. He was a two-time All-American at LSU and spent six seasons with the Bears, 1988-93, with 207 receptions for 3,000 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Malcolm "kind of reminds me of myself," said Wendell Davis, who lives with his wife, Patricia, in Bronzeville. "He's a good player. He has some really good quickness."
Wendell Davis moved his family from the Chicago area to Palo Alto, Calif., prior to Malcolm's freshman year of high school to take a coaching job with the San Francisco 49ers.
He left coaching about 1½ years ago and is in the process of launching a software program that allows football coaches to develop game plans, break down opponents' film and create practice schedules. Davis said he hopes to officially debut the program, called greatcallcoach.com, next year. A few coaching staffs, including ones at Chicago's Roosevelt High School, are testing the program this year, Davis said.
A photo of Malcolm Davis rushing the football is the main picture on greatcallcoach.com. He's only accumulated 19 yards on the ground this season, but Cal Poly running backs coach Aristotle Thompson said Davis "will have a strong role on the team throughout his career because he knows what everyone on the field is supposed to be doing and he is tough."
Malcolm Davis would love to reach the pros like his dad, but he's more focused on succeeding in his kinesiology major to become an athletic trainer or chiropractor.
But like his father, when asked what he thinks about football, Davis said: "I love the game."
"It's nothing we pushed him into," Wendell Davis said. "He just gravitated toward football. He really, really loved it."
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here:
