College Update: Davis having success on field, struggles off

The following are updates on local athletes at the collegiate level.

Michael Davis (Glendale High, 2013) Brigham Young University: One of the most decorated athletes produced by Glendale High in recent memory, Davis has gotten playing time from the onset at BYU, but is now dealing with some off-the-field issues.

As reported by the Salt Lake Tribune on Sept. 2, Davis was charged Aug. 20 with misdemeanor assault and rioting stemming from a dispute regarding a parking spot in an apartment complex in Provo, Utah.

Provo police spokesperson Nisha Henderson told the Tribune that the 20-year-old Davis was cited shortly after 7 p.m. July 29 after allegedly taking part in an altercation with a male of a similar age regarding a parking spot. Showing “visible injuries on his neck” that did not require any medical attention, the male who is pressing charges called police.

A Sept. 4 Associated Press report stated that Davis had pleaded not guilty with the added details that he had been alleged to have grabbed the man by the neck after he called a tow truck driver to remove a car that was parked in the man’s reserved spot. The riot charge was added due to the amount of people gathered and engaging in “combative” behavior.

The story went on to reveal that BYU spokesman Brett Pyne told the AP the university was aware of and had addressed the situation.

In light of the scuffle and charges, Davis’ status as a Cougar hasn’t changed and the cornerback has registered 10 tackles and a pass break-up.

In a Sept. 5 33-28 win against Nebraska, Davis had six tackles. In the Cougars’ 35-24 victory against Boise State on Saturday, Davis chipped in with four tackles.

Now, Davis returns home with the Cougars for a huge matchup as No. 19 BYU heads to Pasadena to face No. 10 UCLA on Saturday.

At Glendale, Davis was a standout receiver who also played defense and, perhaps most notably, advanced to the CIF State Meet as a sprinter his senior year.

Ryan McAleenan (St. Francis High, 2012) University of Nevada Las Vegas football junior: It’s been an arduous start to the season for the Rebels, as they’ve fallen to 0-2 with losses against Southern Illinois and UCLA.

In their home opener Saturday against UCLA, the Rebels lost, 37-3. McAleenan was a bit of a highlight, however, as he tied with teammate Peni Vea for the game-high of eight tackles (including one for a loss).

The week prior in a 38-30 loss to Northern Illinois, McAleenan tallied six tackles.

McAleenan is one of two former Golden Knights on the UNLV roster. Offensive lineman Patrick Carroll, a three-time former All-Area selection, is in his junior season and has played in both of the Rebels’ games thus far.

UNLV travels to face Michigan on Saturday.

Isaiah Bernard (Glendale Community College, 2015) Hawaii football junior: Bernard made his four-year debut Sept. 3 against Colorado and contributed to Hawaii’s 28-20 victory at home with a fourth-quarter one-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Max Wittek.

Bernard had two catches for four yards in the game and added three catches for 18 yards in Hawaii’s 38-0 loss to Ohio State on Saturday.

Hawaii (1-1) hosts UC Davis on Saturday.

Dominick Bell (Glendale Community College, 2015) Missouri Southern football junior: Following a season in which he was an all-conference and all-region honoree, Bell had his first significant four-year impact Thursday.

Missouri Southern lost to Northwest Missouri, 48-7, and fell to 0-2, but Bell tallied four tackles.

Connor Van Ginkel (Crescenta Valley High, 2015) Valparaiso football freshman: Fresh off a stellar senior season in which he helped Crescenta Valley to a CIF Southern Section Southeast Division title, Van Ginkel hauled in his first college catch Saturday.

Van Ginkel’s first-ever Valpo reception was a 24-yarder, though it came in a 56-3 home loss to Sacred Heart.

Valpo (0-2) returns to the field at home Saturday against College of the Faith.

Jonathan Jun (Crescenta Valley, 2015) Whitworth football freshman: An All-CIF and All-Area selection a season ago, Jun made his collegiate debut Saturday.

Whitworth defeated Whittier, 47-11, in the team’s season opener. Jun got three carries for 13 yards.

Whitworth and Jun return to the field Saturday against La Verne.

Travis Talianko (St. Francis High, 2012) Colorado football junior: The long and winding road for Talianko in college took a horrible turn in the summer.

A transfer who spent time at San Jose State and College of the Canyons, where he did not play football, Talianko appeared in 10 games in 2014 as a sophomore. However, this summer he broke his patella and underwent surgery. He will miss the duration of the season.