By Mark Ambrogi
Dalton Davis can’t wait to get an up-close view of AT&T Stadium.
Dalton, 14, will play for Team USA against Canada in the International Bowl on Jan. 30 at the Dallas Cowboys’ home in Arlington, Texas.
“That’s going to be awesome,” the Noblesville West Middle School eighth-grader said.
After competing in USA regional camp at Grand Park in Westfield in May, Davis was selected for the Development Games in July in Canton, Ohio. From there, he was picked for the USA Football Under 15 team.
“I want to work on defensive line skills and get some exposure to let everyone see what I can do,” Dalton said. “I’m looking forward to meeting some college coaches. The feeling of beating another country would be great.”
At 14, Dalton is already 6-1 and 225 pounds and will play defensive tackle for Team USA.
Dalton’s family from moved from McCordsville to Noblesville before this school year. His father Robin Davis, a 1986 Noblesville High School graduate, said he wanted to give Dalton the opportunity to excel in the classroom and athletically.
“I thought it would be cool to wear that jersey,” Dalton said of playing for the same high school as his dad.
Davis, who competed in football, basketball, baseball and track at Noblesville, went to Ball State on a football scholarship but quit after one season.
“I was 6-5 and 220 pounds as a tight end,” Davis said. “I wasn’t big enough. Dalton is already five pounds heavier than I was as a freshman in college.”
Dalton is projected to grow to 6-5 or 6-6, his father said.
Noblesville High School football coach Lance Scheib is quite familiar with Dalton, who has become a good friend of Scheib’s son Christopher, also a Noblesville West eighth-grader.
“The thing really impressive about Dalton is as talented the young man is on the field, he is a better person off the field,” Scheib said. “Academically he does things the right way. He works hard. He’s incredibly dedicated and I think it shows in how he plays and it shows in everything he does. That’s why I’m excited about him and his future is so bright. He excels in every aspect of his life.”
Scheib said the experience will be special for Dalton.
“The competition is awesome,” Scheib said. “When you play against the competition, it can improve your technique and perspective on what is really out there as he starts his high school career (in the fall). The next thing I like is the overall experience of meeting kids from all over the country and representing the United States against Canada. Man, that’s a big deal.”
Dalton is eager to see how he stacks up against the competition.
“Our (Team Indiana) team is the best players around Indiana but it’s always good to see you’re not the very best player,” Dalton said. “It’s always good to play against someone who is better than you or equal to your skills. You can help each other improve.”
Dalton played defensive end on the Team Indiana team, which placed third in the Football University national championship last month at Naples, Fla. Dalton was also on the Team Indiana which finished third in 2013 in San Antonio.
Dalton is one of four Team Indiana players on the Team USA roster. One of the others is Donivan Wright, a former teammate from Mt. Vernon Middle School.
Dalton, who played linebacker and offensive tackle for Noblesville West last fall, also plans to compete in the shot put for the Noblesville West track and field team. Dalton decided to give up playing basketball after his seventh-grade season, but still loves playing pickup basketball games with friends.
