Ben Davis leaning on youth, experience in 2020

There may be nobody who better understands the legacy surrounding the Ben Davis football program better than Jason Simmons. Simmons, who is in his third season at the helm with the Giants, was an assistant from 2006-2008 and then came back and served as assistant athletic director. Last season, Simmons and Ben Davis overcame a 1-3 start on its way to an 8-5 finish, which ended with a 17-10 loss to Center Grove in the Class 6A semi state game. Simmons told Sideline Prep Sports Report that last year was a “valuable learning experience” for the Giants. “We had strong-willed senior leadership that gave our team and program a lot of stability through the slow start. We were able to learn a lot about ourselves and play to our strengths as we worked the second half of the regular season into the tournament,” Simmons said. This year, the Giants enter with several holes to fill on the offensive side, but a wealth of talent back on a defense that allowed a total of 34 points in the last five games of the season. “We have a lot of experience back on both sides of the lines of scrimmage and in the perimeter skill groups on both sides of the ball. Building and developing depth will be critical for us as we navigate the uncertainty of this season,” Simmons told Sideline Prep Sports Report. On the offensive side of the ball, Ben Davis brings back four returning starters, including wide receiver Daylan Carnell, who has committed to Missouri. A season ago, Carnell rushed eight times for 51 yards and reeled in 23 catches for 199 yards. Also back on the offense is left tackle Keylen Davis, a 6-foot-4-inch, 286-pound junior, who has offers from Toledo, Cincinnati, Indiana and Purdue; left guard Marcus Howard, who is 6-foot-3-inches and 290 pounds; and center Jorian Mangum, who stands 6-foot-4-inches and weighs 365. Leading the offense under center will be J’Uan Swanson, a junior. Joining him in the backfield will be Brandon Fuentes, a senior running back. Simmons said Swanson is the top player up from the junior varsity squad. Swanson showed what he is capable of last year, amassing 62 yards on six touches, including a 42-yard scamper. Fuentes saw limited action last fall, picking up 35 yards on seven carries. As for the defensive side, the Giants bring back seven starters with defensive backs Charles Knuckols, a senior, drawing attention from FCS schools, and Dillon Moore, a fellow senior, drawing FBS attention. Knuckols recorded 122 tackles last season and Moore amassed 49 stops. Also back are defensive linemen Romel Williams, David Lara-Gonzalez and defensive back Aneill Boatright. Ben Davis will kick off the 2020 season at home against Brownsburg with road games at Avon and Pike to follow before a return clash against Center Grove at home on Sept. 11. “We will need to have consistent play from the players in the offensive backfield, especially the quarterback position, and at the linebacker level of our defense. If we have that, we feel like we have a chance to be competitive with teams on our schedule,” Simmons said.