Ten years.
That’s how long private quarterback coach Tony Ballard has been working with Davis Mills. This dates all the way back to Mills time at 2A private school Greater Atlanta Christian and his ascension up the ranks to a five-star prospect in the Class of 2017.
The duo’s long history and thousands of practice reps as quarterback & coach came to fruition this past weekend at the Davis Mills Quarterback Challenge. The camp hosted 24 elite quarterback prospects from the Class of 2027 and the Class of 2028 for on field drills and introduction to schematic concepts they’ll later see at the high school level.
QB Coach Tony Ballard (@tballardqbcoach) spoke about what went into organizing the Davis Mills QB Challenge with @Millsions pic.twitter.com/9DobnCz4hO
— John Crumpler (@JohnHCrumpler) July 2, 2022
Tony Ballard was asked by the Texans Wire about his relationship with Mills and the coach didn’t hesitate to endorse one of his top proteges.
“I’ve been Davis private quarterback coach since the seventh grade. That’s a long time, that’s ten years. He and I met at a camp, and I had a chance to work with him. I though he was on a track to be a really talented quarterback, especially at the high school level and our relationship has been really great.”
“I’ve been Davis’ private QB coach since the 7th grade”
Coach Tony Ballard always thought Davis Mills had the potential to be a professional quarterback #WeAreTexans pic.twitter.com/JC1Jj7Oo5d
— John Crumpler (@JohnHCrumpler) July 2, 2022
It seems almost impossible that Ballard would have known the talent he glimpsed at the 2012 Golden Arm QB Camp would go on to become one of the NFL’s 32 starting quarterbacks. Regardless, their wildest dreams certainly seem to be coming to fruition.
Mills has the opportunity in 2022 alongside new offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton and an improved supporting offensive cast to stamp his mark as the franchise quarterback of the Houston Texans. It’s been an impressive rise for a quarterback that was once an afterthought after being selected in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft.