USC's Davis embodies draft's new breed of tight end
Recruited by Southern California as a wide receiver, Davis graduated from high school early and began taking classes at USC in January 2004. By the start of fall practice, he had put on 25 pounds.
"I didn't hit the weight room much in high school, and I started eating really well at college. I just blew up in college," Davis says. "My position coach said I could be a really good tight end. When fall camp started, I asked him if I could give tight end a shot."
The tight end position has evolved in the NFL in recent years.
"Used to be, back when I started in '78, '79, was that you couldn't block, you couldn't play," ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. says. "The pass-catching tight ends are front and center today. The blocking is almost secondary."
Mike Mayock of the NFL Network attributes that to the focus on the passing game in college.
"Because of the proliferation of spread offenses, you're getting bulked-up former wide receivers converted into tight ends because of their pass-receiving skills," Mayock says. "Davis has rocked up with a great-looking physique. He's an athletic mismatch for a linebacker and can get down the field and challenge safeties. He's extremely athletic with the ball in his hands after the catch."
Davis didn't generate impressive statistics in his first two seasons, in part because the Trojans were well-stocked at wide receiver — Mike Williams, Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith played for Southern California during Davis' first three seasons and all three played in the NFL last year. The Trojans didn't need Davis to catch passes.
But Davis increased his production in 2006 with 38 receptions for 352 yards and three touchdowns. With the receiving corps depleted after losing Smith and Dwayne Jarrett to the NFL in 2007, Davis became the go-to guy.
"They had to use the tight end position more than they wanted to," Davis says. "Once they knew I could make plays, they started giving me more opportunities. I took advantage and showed them what I could do."
Davis set goals. He wanted to total more than 800 receiving yards, catch at least eight touchdowns passes and win the Mackey Award, for the nation's top tight end.
"I knew I could do it. I just needed the opportunity," Davis says.
He finished with 62 receptions for 881 yards and eight touchdowns. All are Southern California single-season records for a tight end. Davis also won the Mackey Award. He had three 100-yard plus receiving games.
But since the season ended, Davis' pre-draft workouts have been inconsistent. He was decent at the Senior Bowl but struggled at the scouting combine with an average 40 time and dropped passes. He performed better at his pro day.
"You wonder why a kid can't catch the ball in gym shorts in a nice environment," Mayock says. "That is a little bit of a red flag. Game tape is much more important."
Says Davis: "There's always something to work out. Whatever is supposed to happen will happen. I can't wait to see my new life."
TEAMS IN NEED: Who's targeting tight ends
• Cincinnati Bengals: A team with good receivers, but also a team on which a tight end could give Carson Palmer a needed safety valve. Ben Utecht joined Cincinnati in the offseason from Indianapolis, but he was stuck behind Dallas Clark in the Colts' offense. Can he be the go-to guy?
• Seattle Seahawks: Former first-rounder Jerramy Stevens didn't work out (he was with Tampa Bay in 2007), and neither did Marcus Pollard (28 catches for the 36-year-old in 2007). Seattle signed former Bronco and Texan Jeb Putzier, but a down-field threat at tight end would help Matt Hasselbeck execute Seattle's prolific passing game under Mike Holmgren.
• Buffalo Bills: They haven't received much production from the position recently. The Bills lost Michael Gaines to the Detroit Lions via free agency and, of course, saw Kevin Everett go down with a career-ending spinal injury last season. Both losses further stress the need for a tight end to help second-year quarterback Trent Edwards. They added Courtney Anderson, but he did not play a down in '07 while spending time with three teams.
• New Orleans Saints: Already loaded with playmakers (Drew Brees, Reggie Bush and Marques Colston), a talented tight end would give Brees yet another option in the passing game. Eric Johnson has played just two full seasons (both with the San Francisco 49ers — the last in 2004) in his seven-year career. He played 14 games last season, starting 12, and missed the '03 and '05 seasons with injuries.
• New York Jets: Chris Baker wants an extension even though he's only averaged 21 receptions annually over his six-year career. Newly signed Bubba Franks is in decline and merely a stopgap. But an effective intermediate target would be tailor-made for Chad Pennington or Kellen Clemens as neither quarterback possesses a deep-ball arm.
• Atlanta Falcons: Veteran Ben Hartsock has 24 catches in four years — the kind of production the Falcons would see in one month from Alge Crumpler, the man Hartsock replaces. With 11 picks in the draft (six in the first three rounds), Atlanta can invest in a tight end.
CREAM OF THE CROP: Best of the rest at tight end
— John Carlson, Notre Dame, 6-5, 251
• Scouting report: One of the more complete tight ends in the draft given his ability to block and catch. Stock increased at Notre Dame's pro day when he posted faster 40 times and a higher vertical jump than he did at the scouting combine.
• Quotable: "Carlson is more of a typical inline tight end. He has average to good speed, catches the ball well and is a good blocker." —Mike Mayock, NFL Network analyst
• Projected round: Third
— Martellus Bennett, Texas A&M, 6-6, 259
• Scouting report: Like San Diego's Antonio Gates, Bennett, who left Texas A&M after his junior season, also played basketball in college; caught 49 passes for 587 yards and four touchdowns in 2007; combines size, speed and strength — recorded 67 knockdown blocks last season, according to Texas A&M; stock has risen since scouting combine.
• Quotable: "I would say football is my wife, and basketball is my mistress." —Bennett
• Projected round: Second
— Dustin Keller, Purdue, 6-2, 242
• Scouting report: Impressive at the scouting combine with fastest 40, fastest 20-yard shuttle, highest vertical jump and best long jump among tight ends; caught 68 passes for 881 yards and seven touchdowns.
• Quotable: "He's not a blocker. He's a receiver. He's a great pass-catching tight end. He's not going to help you as a blocker. Because of that, he's a borderline first-round pick." —ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr.
• Projected round: Second
— Kellen Davis, Michigan State, 6-7, 262
• Scouting report: Caught 32 passes for 513 yards and six touchdowns, rushed for 43 yards on six carries and had 2½ sacks in limited action at defensive end in 2007; showed good speed pass-catching skills in workouts.
• Quotable: "There's a buzz out there on him. He has an impressive body. He's a guy who was under-productive in college and will probably get overdrafted because of his physical skills." —Mayock
• Projected round: Fourth
— Brad Cottam, Tennessee, 6-8, 270
• Scouting report: Played in just five games in 2007 because of a wrist injury; NCAA denied his request for a medical redshirt season. Had just 21 career catches for 341 yards and one touchdown. Performed well at scouting combine and Tennessee's pro day, displaying decent speed and jumping ability.
• Quotable: "His height, weight and speed will get him drafted fairly early." —Mayock
• Projected round: Third
Source: www.usatoday.com
