Editor's note: This story is part of the first installment of the Yakima Herald Republic's Prep Football Kickoff. CWAC previews will be published online on Monday, and SCAC and EWAC West previews will be published on Wednesday.
Any scouting report for Davis this season will center around a junior who's already caught the attention of big-time football coaches, despite playing just three games last fall.
Lance McGee showed flashes of greatness while rushing for 263 yards as a sophom*ore before suffering a serious right meniscus injury. Doctors finally cleared him to play in June and Pirates coach Jay Dumas said the imposing 6-foot-1, 215-pound running back/linebacker looks poised to step into a primary leadership role following a productive summer.
"I don't know if it's a yardage thing or a catches thing or a tackles thing, I just know that if he plays 10 games, the statistics and everything will speak for itself," Dumas said. "Interceptions, fumbles caused, touchdown runs, all of that will culminate if he can do well for 10 games and then that will be a breakout season."
McGee's ambitious personal goals include leading the league in tackles and amassing 1,500 all-purpose yards while scoring 20 touchdowns for an offense designed to feed him the ball in a variety of ways. He's eager to take charge on a team somewhat devoid of experienced seniors.
It'seasy to see how much energy McGee brings to the field at practice, and Dumas said that presence and positivity can lift the whole team in a big way. Last year's injury taught McGee to never take football for granted, so he responded by working even harder than before.
Nevada offered McGee his first Division I scholarship in summer 2023, then he added Memphis and Washington to that list this summer after sending out film and attending the Northwest Showcase and AveryStrong College Showcase, where coaches and staff named him the running back MVP. He also played in several 7-on-7 competitions and took visits to the University of Washington, Washington State and Eastern Washington.
Dumas said McGee's unique blend of speed and power would make him one of the team's best at virtually any position, and they'll be trying different things to give him the ball in space. But the coaches also know relying on one player too much— Dumas pointed to 2021 CBBN MVP Ricardo Acevedo, another running back/linebacker — can increase injury risk and lead to fatigue late in the season.
Forhis part, McGee said constant lifting, running four miles three times a week and plenty of time spent on the field prepared him to play as much as possible for the Pirates on both sides of the ball. He's also learned a lot from his uncle Shag Williams— a Davis standout who started 80 games for UW basketball from 1981-86— about the nutrition and work ethic it takes to become a Division I athlete.
Defensively, Dumas said McGee's ready to direct teammates as a middle linebacker, the position he'd prefer to play in college. He enjoys blitzing and should have plenty of freedom to follow the ball and make big plays.
"I love to hit," said McGee, who watches tape of Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis before games for motivation. "There's nothing better than that."
Opponents and high school coaches already know about McGee's athletic prowess, which he's also hoping to show on the basketball court as a forward/center this winter. Dumas said college coaches will be watching to see how McGee handles adversity and what kind of influence he has on his teammates.
"They're not looking to see how good you are anymore," Dumas said. "They're looking to see what type of person you are. That's what we're going to try and develop with him over the next couple years."
Programs maintaining communication with McGee include Washington and Oregon, his two favorite college football teams growing up. He's planning to play 7-on-7 at the national level and make a lot more recruiting trips next offseason before deciding on his next destination.
For now, though, McGee's determined to spearhead a culture change at Davis, where he's the leader of a core group of juniors who have been teammates since youth football. With the discomfort of last season's injury in the rearview mirror, all that's left is for him and the other Pirates to step on the field and trust the work they put in over the summer.
"I was a little nervous at first, but just once I got back into it, just didn't think about it much and it feels good now," McGee said. "Everything's good."
