27 Aug 2024 501 Football Team 2024: Axley Davis – Heber Springs

Axley Davis’ high school career as a Heber Springs Panther has had an interesting challenge.

“Every year, we’ve had a different head football coach,” he said. “Installing whole playbooks in a summer alone is an adversity my teammates and I have faced a few times.”

But now under the direction of Caleb Carmikle, Davis and the Panthers are ready to establish success and pick up the program’s first playoff win since 2018.

“Axley is a great representation of our football program,” Carmikle said. “I’m proud that I will get the chance to coach him. Axley is a big, strong, athletic lineman. He is our strongest player but also has the athletic ability to block in space. I expect Axley to have an all-state-caliber year for us this year.

“But more importantly than that, I expect him to lead the young linemen in our program and show them the mindset required to contribute once they are older.”

Davis earned all-conference honors as a junior. In addition to football, he competes in track and field, throwing the shot put and discus for the Panthers. He also volunteers at the Heber Springs Humane Society.

After high school, he plans to attend college and pursue a career in computer science. But before that, he’s soaking in one last season of football. “Make it last,” Davis said. “You feel like you have all the time in the world to play football, but then your senior year hits and it feels like no time has passed.”