The unquestioned leader of the Demons’ offense entering his third year as the starting quarterback (24 games, 23 starts), Vinson is expected to pick up where he left off in 2004. His smooth play and strong leadership spearheaded the Demons’ surge down the stretch last fall to the Southland Conference co-championship. Vinson has a powerful arm and the ability to turn even a quarterback sneak into a big play, as he did for a TD vs. Sam Houston State (18 yards) and Stephen F. Austin (49 yards) last year. An unselfish player, Vinson leads more by example, but his enthusiasm clearly inspires the Demons.
Record Watch: Vinson ranks ninth all-time in school history in passing yards (2,781), attempts (405) and completions (206), and in total offense (3,394 yards) … if he can match last year’s production, he can become only the third Demon QB ever to throw for 4,000 career yards and could finish third all-time in total offense.
Honors: All-Southland Conference Honorable Mention selection… Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Week, 11/20/04 (Stephen F. Austin)… Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Week, 9/7/2003 (Tulane).
2004: Had a dynamic November once Demons abandoned QB rotation (with backup Connor Morel entering game at some point in the first half, usually on third series) … steered Demons to an average of 42 points and 517 total yards in final three regular-season games … he averaged 237 yards in total offense in that stretch .. passing, was 31-55-2 (56.3 percent) for 543 yards and four TDs while he ran for 167 yards on 24 carries, and four TDs in closing three games of SLC season … started all 12 games … was … the team’s third-leading rusher with 348 yards on 63 carries and 5 TDs… passed for 1498 yards and a 17-yard TD to Derrick Doyle on 12 for 27 accuracy while also rushing for 26 yards on 9 carries in season opener vs. La.-Lafayette… was 7 for 11 passing for 75 yards and rushed for 21 more on 5 carries in 52-6 drubbing of Texas Southern… in a short appearance, had 48 yards passing with a 32-yard TD to Derrick Doyle on 2 for 3 accuracy with 2 carries for 13 yards in 63-14 pasting of Oklahoma Panhandle… was 5 for 7 with 47 yards and a TD pass to Clayton Broyles and an interception in victory over Appalachian State… had 38 yards rushing on 4 attempts, highlighted by a dazzling 46-yard TD scamper, and threw for 51 yards on 3 for 9 passing with a 27-yard TD strike to Josh Mosby in big win against McNeese State… had a 21-yard TD pass to Derrick Doyle in 5 of 13 for 74 yards passing with an interception and 33 yards rushing on 7 carries at North Dakota State… impressive 206 yards with 8 and 30-yard TD passes to Derrick Doyle on 13 of 21 passing with an interception and a 6-yd TD run in his 7 carries for 58 yards against Texas State… had an 18-yard TD run and 6-yard TD pass to Issa Banna in 45-27 defeat of Sam Houston State… had two 1-yard TD dives and a 27-yard TD strike to Toby Zeigler in 11 carry for 74 yards and 12 of 20 passing for 269 yards Player of the Week performance vs. Stephen F. Austin… threw 10-yard TD pass to Clayton Broyles for Demons’ only score in playoff loss at Montana.
2003: His 1,541 yards passing was just shy of the school single-season top 10, but his 121 completions ranks 7th all-time at NSU, edging by Bobby Hebert’s 120 in 1980… his 240 attempts also ranks 7th all-time, just ahead of current assistant Brad Laird… threw for 8 TDs with only 4 interceptions, one every 60 attempts… also was the team’s fourth-leading rusher with 265 yards and scored 7 TDs… had a long run of 44 yards, tightroping the sideline for a TD against Nicholls State… threw for 264 yards in 19 of 34 aim at Tulane, adding 26 yards rushing and another TD, and threw a perfect two-point conversion pass as the Demons rolled up 493 total yards in a 27-24 OT loss… guided a drive downfield in the final two minutes of regulation to set up a potential game-winning 38-yard field goal, foiled by a bad snap… showed his knack for clutch play a couple of weeks later in a 14-10 win at La.-Monroe, leading the game-winning 29-yard drive in the final 1:32… converted a 3rd-and-22 in the final 20 seconds with a pass to Marcus Gatlin, setting up the decisive play-action TD pass to Titus May on the next play… started all but one game, and in that one, came off the bench late in the first quarter and led five straight scoring drives in a 42-point onslaught while tying Bobby Hebert’s school record with nine straight completions while running for 3 TDs (3, 1, and 1)… accounted for a season-high 308 yards of total offense, leading the Demons in rushing with 78 yards in 8 rushes, including the 44-yard TD, and throwing for 220 and another TD (62 yards to Toby Zeigler) on 17 of 29 accuracy with one interception vs. Nicholls State… threw for 203 yards, including a 40-yard TD to Derrick Doyle, and led a late drive inside the 10 before McNeese State staged a goaline stand to preserve a 13-9 win.
2001 at Baylor: True freshman played in six games as a reserve… saw first action of the season at then-second ranked Oklahoma… rushed for 55 yards on eight carries against Oklahoma State.
High School: Attended Kilgore High School… completed 201 passes for 3,378 yards and 29 TDs in two seasons… All-East Texas and honorable mention All-State… listed as the No. 67 prospect in the state of Texas by Superprep… ranked among the nation’s Top 100 prep quarterbacks by Rivals.com… rated the third-best quarterback in the state by Texas Football.
Personal: 22 years old, born 9/1/83… son of Willie Vinson… full name is David Marquis Vinson.
