Prep profile: Quarterback Nelson takes lead on, off field for Davenport

It seems that Kyle Nelson is a natural-born leader – on and off the football field.

In addition to a 3.9 GPA, Nelson serves as ASB president at Davenport High School and quarterback of the football team. The senior plans on attending Washington State University next fall to study engineering.

For now, Nelson calls Davenport football the best part of his high school experience.

“Football has been the highlight of my high school career. After this I can’t call up my friends and throw on some pads and go play,” Nelson said. “You get four years to play high school football and we’ve been successful so that’s been fun, too. It’s been a fun ride.”

This is Nelson’s second season as starting quarterback, a role for which his coach thinks he was born.

“He’s a really sharp kid,” head football coach Harold Patterson said. “We changed up some of our plays and things we do this year and he picks things up right away and helps kids who aren’t getting it right away. He’s a great teammate.”

Nelson threw two touchdown passes and rushed for two more touchdowns in last week’s 47-14 thrashing of Wilbur-Creston.

But beyond his impressive numbers on the field are his leadership skills among his peers.

“He pumps the kids up and really takes on the role as leader of our team,” Patterson said.

“One of the biggest things is that he’s enthusiastic about everything,” assistant principal and coach Mike Perry said. “Whatever it is, he wants to do he is enthusiastic about and I think that rubs off on people.

“When people see someone enjoying what they are doing like (Kyle) does, it makes others want to try it out.”

This week the Gorillas (3-0) host league rival Reardan (2-0) in their most important game of the regular season. Davenport, after defeating Reardan in its regular-season game last season, lost 29-7 to the Indians in the State B-11 semifinals. Reardan went on to win the title.

“We have been having pretty intense practices this week,” Nelson said. “We are treating this like any other game, but it’s a little more important because it’s against Reardan.”

Nelson does his best to get his teammates ready for games by playing a special music tape he made and handing out valuable information to his teammates.