Accent On Tampa Bay #213 Sept/Oct 2015 Sept/Oct 2015 | Page 44

Bucs Bits
Davin Joseph

D

Davin’s Dream Team

avin Joseph isn’t just
an impactful offensive
guard on the field but is an
even more prominent individual in the community.
As a former Buc and nine
year NFL veteran, Davin
understands the hard work
and commitment required
to be successful not only
as a professional athlete
but also as a philanthropist and role model off the
field. Growing up in Hallandale, FL, Davin attended
Hallandale High School
and not only did he shatter school records as a
four year starter playing
on both sides of the ball on
the field, but he also took
his athletic excellence to
the mat earning himself
the title of wrestling state
champion. He received
football All State honors in contingence with being
awarded the Broward County Defensive Award.
With an impressive high school resume, Davin
was highly recruited out of high school and eventually signed his letter of intent to the University
of Oklahoma where he immediately started turning heads and was selected in the first round of
the 2006 NFL Draft to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Davin’s rookie year in the NFL was anything but
quiet. He started 12 out of 13 games and earned
a full time starting role his second year. With his
football career on the rise, Davin was named to the
Pro Bowl in 2008.
Although he resigned from the Buccaneers
in 2011, as a Buccaneer veteran, Davin felt that
the team, organization and community were his
family. He wanted to give back in a way that re44

ally touched people. He
decided to ask coaches
and school administrators
in the Tampa region, what
their needs were. Expecting answers that revolved
around equipment, monetary donations, and uniforms, Davin was surprised
when a lot of schools said
their athletes weren’t get
the proper nutrition, so he
started his own foundation
in 2011 in order to do more
for the community.
Davin’s Dream Team is
a nonprofit organization
that aims to lower child
hunger through his student
athlete programs. These
initiatives aim to enhance
the quality of opportunities
available to our youth by
strengthening athletic and
performing art programs in public schools. He has
completed the following projects: 2012 Donated
PowerAde to entire Athletic Department at Hallandale High School, 2012 Davin Joseph Weight
Room at Blake High School (Tampa, FL), 2013 Davin Joseph Weight Room at Middleton High School
(Tampa, FL) and 2013 Purchased new uniforms
for Athletic Department at Hallandale High School.
Just as his Pro Bowl honors speak for his play
on the field, the awards Davin has earned in the
community speak to the dedication, commitment,
and involvement he has to his foundation. As an
eloquent speaker with an animated personality,
his foundation’s success is certainly run by a true
advocate of the cause and has earned national
achievements. Due to his calm and charismatic
character, Davin has been a media favorite for ev-

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