News 2 morning show co-anchor Dawn Davenport, 37, is leaving the station after 10 years to become Nashville's first full-time female sports radio personality, she confirmed.

Davenport, a News 2 sports reporter for five years before joining the morning show, will do her last broadcast on WKRN on Friday morning.

Davenport said it's a privilege to be the first women on Nashville sports radio to hold down a full-time position.

"And one I won’t take lightly," she said. "This market has needed it and wanted it for a long time."

Davenport, who has done some college football sideline reporting for ESPN, also has landed a more regular position as game-day reporter for ESPN's SEC Network. She now will appear every week during college football season.

And Davenport will remain based in Nashville.

"I moved here almost 10 years ago, as the No. 3 sports person at WKRN, and I thought I’m not gonna be here that long," she said. "I'm gonna move on up.

"And I ended up falling in love with the city."

She said she is grateful for her time at News 2.

"I’ve gotten to work with some of the most talented anchors, reporters, photographers and producers, not only talented, but good, wholesome people."

News 2 has had its best morning show ratings in history recently, often finishing No. 2 behind perennial ratings powerhouse NewsChannel 5.

But the lineup now will undergo two major personnel changes: Davenport is leaving about six months after popular meteorologist Justin Bruce left to work in Las Vegas.

Co-anchor Neil Orne — on the morning show for 17 years — said he is optimistic the show will remain competitive.

"I have to be," he said Wednesday.

"If I went into a state of depression every time someone left the morning show, I’d be paying a lot more for therapy than I already do."

Orne, 51, said anchor changes give News 2 opportunities to reach new audiences and gain new energy. And he based that on experience.

"When Dawn got here, she replaced a very popular Julie Kroenig. And what did Dawn do? She more than filled Julie’s shoes."

Davenport said she's looking forward to going back to sports full time and to being a regular on the SEC Network. Her favorite SEC team?

"Obviously I’m a professional and I’m unbiased," she said, smiling, "but I’m an Auburn Tiger."

Davenport didn't reveal specifics about her new job at 104.5 The Zone. But sources say she'll be on the afternoon show, replacing former Titans safety Blaine Bishop, who is moving to mornings to replace Frank Wycheck, who'll become a floater for the station.

Reach Brad Schmitt at brad@tennessean.com or 615-259-8384 or on Twitter @bradschmitt.