Palmetto State News

Dexter Davis had a pretty good career when he played football for Clemson from 1988 to 1990.  

He started all 12 games for the Tigers at defensive back in 1989, and was named second-team All-ACC. As a junior in 1990, he had a career-high 85 tackles and led the ACC with six interceptions, according to an university release, and went on to play in the NFL after getting drafted in the fourth round in 1991.

But perhaps the highest honor Davis has received in regard to his stellar career at Clemson came last month, when he was presented with the Brian Dawkins Lifetime Achievement Award.

Clemson names former star Dexter Davis latest Dawkins award winner. | File

Given annually since 2013 by Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney, the award goes to a former Clemson player who has consistently demonstrated leadership, community service, and other high qualities for at least 10 years since graduating from the Clemson football program.

Dawkins set a high standard. 

An NFL Hall of Famer who played 16 seasons in the NFL, Dawkins was the first recipient of the award honoring his many years of public service. 

Davis embodies all of Dawkins' high qualities on-and-off the field. Davis played when the Tigers had a 10-2 record and finished in the top 12 of the final AP poll each year.

A native of Sumter, Davis was drafted in the fourth round by the Cardinals and played in 59 games in the NFL for the Cardinals and the Rams, the release said. 

After his football playing days ended, Davis enjoyed a brief coaching career. His first stop was at Morgan State on the staff of Stump Mitchell. Davis left there to coach at high schools in Charleston and Greenville.

Davis now works in the private sector as president and CEO of Eagle Universal Services, a construction and engineering company whose client list includes the U.S. Navy and Marines, the NFL, Bank of America, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, according to the release.

 A longtime member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Davis has helped mentor programs at Georgia State, Morris Brown, and Morehouse. 

He also has worked as a “character coach” for the Atlanta Falcons and a director of football ministries in Brazil, Hungary, and East Africa.