|
One of the quickest cornerbacks in the country, Davis is regarded as the Atlantic Coast Conference's top man coverage defender. He has drawn comparisons to former Clemson standout Tye Hill, according to opposing ACC coaches, for his ability to instantly change direction and close on the ball with suddenness. He has not only used his impressive quickness and leaping ability to excel on the football field, but was also a productive performer on the Wolfpack's track team.
Davis was a Parade All-American cornerback at North Durham High School during his senior year, where he also competed as a receiver. Tom Lemming's Prep Football Report, a scouting service that also awarded Davis with first-team All-American honors, ranked him the top cornerback in the nation. The North Carolina High School Athletics Association named him North Carolina's Male High School Athlete of the Year.
TheInsiders.com rated Davis the 24th-best prospect in the nation, regardless of position and Prep Star/CBS SportsLine accorded him Top 125 Dream Team accolades as the third-best defensive back in the nation and the best defensive back in the Atlantic region. At the U.S. Army All-American Game, Davis was timed as the contest's fastest player, boasting a 4.28-second timing in the 40-yard dash. Rivals.com rated Davis the sixth-best cornerback in the national high school ranks.
Davis had 42 receptions for 709 yards and nine touchdowns as a senior. He also returned three kicks for touchdowns. At cornerback, he intercepted two passes and recorded 57 tackles as a senior. During his career, he registered six interceptions, as three were returned for touchdowns. As a junior, he caught 30 passes for 700 yards and 18 touchdowns and returned four punts for scores (three in one game vs. Orange County). In track, Davis set the state record in the long jump with a 24'10" leap. He was the 2002 NC Indoor Champion in the triple jump (48'1") and the long jump (24-0.5).
Davis enrolled at North Carolina State in 2002. He was scheduled to line up second on the depth chart at left cornerback, but he fractured his right fibula in the Wolfpack's second preseason scrimmage on Aug. 14 and underwent surgery the next week. Davis would then spend the season rehabilitating while competing on the scout team as a medical hardship.
As a redshirt freshman in 2003, Davis competed in 13 games, logging action in 403 plays. He recorded 34 tackles (25 solos) with a stop behind the line of scrimmage and a forced fumble. He deflected nine passes and intercepted two others. He posted six solo hits on special teams, where he also gained 130 yards on seven kickoff returns (18.6 avg).
His coming-out party was the Tangerine Bowl vs. Kansas, as he registered six tackles with an interception, three pass deflections and five kickoff returns for 108 yards, including two long runbacks that led to a pair of NC State touchdowns.
Davis played in every game, starting vs. Clemson in 2004. He appeared in 365 plays, making 34 tackles (30 solos) with three more stops on special teams. He batted away six passes and recovered an onside kickoff for a 9-yard return while earning team Most Dependable Cornerback honors. He also competed on the school's 2004 indoor and outdoor track teams, where he finished fourth in the indoor long jump (23'8-1/4"), fourth in the indoor high jump (6'9"), third in the outdoor long jump (24'1/4") and seventh in the outdoor high jump (6'6").
Davis took over left cornerback duties for the Wolfpack in 2005. He was on the field for 748 plays, totaling 54 tackles (31 solos) with a 5-yard sack, 10 pass break-ups and a pair of interceptions. He was penalized nine times for pass interference, but allowed opposing receivers to catch only 25 passes in 12 contests.
Davis was sidelined after playing in only 11 snaps vs. Appalachian State in the 2006 season opener due to a hamstring injury that kept him out of the next two contests vs. Akron and Southern Mississippi. The opposition averaged 224.0 yards passing vs. State with Davis out of the lineup. He returned to action vs. Boston College and produced 12 tackles (eight solos) with five pass deflections and assisted on a stop behind the line of scrimmage, as his main pass coverage assignment managed only four catches for 46 yards. With Davis on the field, the Wolfpack secondary allowed only 147.0 yards per game passing.
In 40 games at North Carolina State, Davis started 16 times. He participated in 1,675 plays, recording 135 tackles (104 solos) with 1 1/2 sacks for minus-7 yards and five stops for losses of 14 yards. Thirty-six of his tackles came vs. the run, while 29 of his hits were produced on third-down plays. He added nine tackles (eight solos) on special teams and returned seven kickoffs for 130 yards (18.6 avg). He deflected 30 passes for his career, and in 17 games as a starter he prevented his main pass coverage assignment from getting to 26 other throws, including 10 on third-down plays. Davis gained 111 yards (27.8 avg) on four interception returns and 130 yards (18.6 avg) on seven kickoff returns.
|