Vernon Davis

Davis is regarded by many as the best pass catching tight end in college football. Not only does he have the ability to stretch the defense, but his lateral agility has allowed him to line up at fullback, H-back and flanker during his career. One of the team's finest athletes, he boasts the second-best strength index (797) on the squad and is blessed with 4.41-second speed (40-yard dash), in addition to displaying excellent strength (460-pound bench press) and incredible leaping ability (40-inch vertical jump). Davis was a three-sport standout at Dunbar High School. In football, he started three seasons at tight end and safety but also saw time at wide receiver, kick returner, linebacker and defensive end during his tenure. He was rated as the third-best tight end in the nation by ESPN.com's Tom Lemming and was a member of Super Prep's Elite 50 (39th-rated player overall). He was a Mid-Atlantic All-Region pick by Super Prep and rated the third-best player (at any position) in the region. As a senior, he was chosen second-team All-USA by USA Today, was ranked as the fourth-best tight end in the nation and the seventh-best player (overall) in the Atlantic East by Rivals.com, added first-team All-Metro honors from The Washington Post and was selected Gatorade Player of the Year for the District of Columbia. Davis caught 21 passes for 511 yards (24.3 avg) and five touchdowns as a senior, despite missing three games with a deep bone bruise below his knee. He also caught three two-point conversions and returned four kicks (two kickoffs and two punts) for touchdowns. His team compiled a 31-5 record during his time at Dunbar High. He was selected to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. As a junior, Davis had 35 receptions for 385 yards and eleven touchdowns. In track, he clocked a personal best 10.7 seconds in the 100-meters and 4.4 in the 40-yard dash. He also was the DCIAA champion in the high jump with a leap of 6'5". Davis also competed in basketball. Davis was heavily recruited, but chose Maryland over Florida, Virginia, Purdue and Miami, among others. He played in every game as a reserve tight end as a true freshman in 2003. Most of his action came on special teams, leading the kickoff coverage unit with eight solo tackles. He also made five catches for 59 yards (11.8 avg). The following season, Davis started six of eleven games for the Terps. He ranked second on the team with 27 receptions for 441 yards (16.3 avg) and three touchdowns, with all three scores coming in the Duke contest. He also posted two assisted tackles. 2005 proved to be a banner season for Davis, as he garnered consensus All-American and All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors. He was also a finalist for the Mackey Award, given to the top tight end in the nation. Davis led the team with 51 catches and paced the ACC with 871 yards (17.1 avg), adding six touchdowns. In 35 games with the Terps, Davis started 17 times. He caught 93 passes for 1,371 yards (14.7 avg) and nine touchdowns. Davis also gained 68 yards on three kickoff returns, rushed once for a 2-yard loss and registered eleven tackles (9 solos).

davis also gets to the second level quickly and is equally effective at cutting or walling off, moving his feet well to sustain. he picks up things easily working in space and shows intent when attacking the linebackers. he excels at making the cut-off block and has the ability to locate and hit moving targets.

With more emphasis being made in the pros to involve the tight end in the passing attack, it is clear that Davis has very good value. He could be the first tight end drafted due to his combination of quickness, leaping ability, speed and strength. He lacks ideal height and could use more bulk, but not at the risk of losing some of his incredible speed.

davis has a thick frame with room for additional growth. he displays very good overall muscle development in his legs, good bubble, defined shoulders and arms, good chest width, long arms and big hands. he can generate excellent explosion coming off the snap and his speed also allows the coaches to line him wide and capitalize on that quickness in long routes.

His burst off the snap allows him to consistently gain advantage. He has above average up field and lateral quickness to reach the second level and has more than enough strength to defeat the jam. When he explodes out of his stance, he immediately gains advantage to hook the nine-tech and moves his feet well to sustain when blocking.

davis has the explosion and second gear to find the open seam on deep routes. he shows a good ability to track the ball in flight and has that sudden burst to break tackles after initial contact. he demonstrates the body control and ball skills to adjust downfield and runs hard, knowing where to find the end zone.

As a blocker, he might lack ideal height and bulk, but attacks with good aggression. Davis has the ability to surge off the line of scrimmage and make contact, generating pop with proper hand extension when working in-line. He plays with good leverage and it is very rare to see him lean into the defender. Davis stays at a good pad level, with a wide base and has the leg drive to wall off and the hand punch to shock his opponent.

davis shows the ability to work back to the quarterback. he has a knack for finding and settling into the zone's soft area and shows valid feet running underneath routes. he lacks ideal height at 6-feet-3, but still presents a nice target on short routes, displaying a good understanding for leverage and how to sit in the zone.

He is rarely distracted when working in a crowd and will stand tall while taking a punishing hit. He does a very good job of extending his arms to catch the ball with his hands in front of his frame. Davis also plays with good aggression and does not hesitate to combat for the jump balls. His large, soft hands let him extend, pluck, snatch and secure the ball with ease.

the thing you see on film is his ability to get off the line cleanly and avoid underneath coverage on the route stem. he is best when used as a seam threat, as he shows the acceleration and speed to challenge even cornerbacks on deep patterns. he also uses his hands very well to elude and break free from the pile when working through traffic.

Davis displays very good quickness in and out of his breaks. He has superb body control to break down and make the quick cuts. In 2005, he greatly improved his ability to sink his hips and separate out of his cuts. He used to shuffle his feet and gear down in his breaks, but has demonstrated better acceleration. His patterns are precise vs. man coverage and he works hard to gain leverage.

positives

Davis is not only built for speed, but also possesses a very impressive power base (460-pound bench press, 685-pound squat, 4.41 40-yard dash in on-campus workouts)...Has good overall muscle development, long arms, good bubble, soft, natural hands and excellent leaping ability for this position...Shows suddenness off the line of scrimmage and the ability to gain advantage on a defender...His burst off the line and strong hand usage allow him to quickly defeat the jam...Has outstanding quickness to elude and run up the seam on deep routes...Gets in and out of his breaks quickly and has the body control to break down and make the quick, sudden cuts...Gets into the open with a quick stride and can find the ball and make the catch with defenders draped on him...Has the vision to work back to the quarterback and the soft hands to extend and pluck outside the body's frame...Shows outstanding toughness extending for the pass and will not hesitate to combat for jump balls...Does a very good job of tracking the ball over his shoulders, getting his head turned around to maintain relationship on the pass in flight...His ball adjustment skills and body control let him get to off-target passes, utilizing his excellent flexibility to make the acrobatic grabs...Gets a strong surge off the line of scrimmage, generating good pop and hand extension when making contact blocking in-line...Has the ability to climb into the second level and make the cut-off blocks...Always looking for moving targets to attack.

negatives

Lacks ideal height, but compensates with excellent leaping ability...Used to get too high in his stance, failing to sink his hips to separate out of his cuts down field, but has made good improvement in this area.

2002: Missed four games during his high school senior season with a deep bone bruise below his kneecap.

Campus: An Iron Terp with the second-highest strength index on the team

Owns school strength records for a tight end in bench (460), power clean (355), vertical jump (40 inches), index (797), squat (685) and 40-yard dash time (4.41)

All were recorded in spring of 2005.

Attended Dunbar (Washington, D.C.) High School, playing football for head coach Craig Jefferies

Started three seasons at tight end and safety but also saw time at wide receiver, kick returner, linebacker and defensive end during his tenure

Rated as the third-best tight end in the nation by ESPN.com's Tom Lemming and was a member of Super Prep's Elite 50 (39th-rated player overall)

Mid-Atlantic All-Region pick by Super Prep and rated the third-best player (at any position) in the region

As a senior, he was chosen second-team All-USA by USA Today, was ranked as the fourth-best tight end in the nation and the seventh-best player (overall) in the Atlantic East by Rivals.com, added first-team All-Metro honors from The Washington Post and was selected Gatorade Player of the Year for the District of Columbia

Caught 21 passes for 511 yards (24.3 avg) and five touchdowns as a senior, despite missing three games with a deep bone bruise below his knee

Also caught three two-point conversions and returned four kicks (two kickoffs and two punts) for touchdowns

His team compiled a 31-5 record during his time at Dunbar High

Selected to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl

As a junior, Davis had 35 receptions for 385 yards and eleven touchdowns

In track, he clocked a personal best 10.7 seconds in the 100-meters and 4.4 in the 40-yard dash

DCIAA champion in the high jump with a leap of 6'5"

Also competed in basketball.

Art Studio major

Nicknamed "The Duke"

Son of Jacqueline Davis

Born Vernon Davis on 1/31/84

Resides in Washington, D.C.