NFL Draft

Vernon Davis, TE, San Francisco 49ers

April 29, 2006 @ 16:00:00

By Nicholas Minnix
Edited by Cory J. Bonini

When University of Maryland tight end Vernon Davis decided to forego his senior year, hire an agent and enter the 2006 National Football League Draft, he became the consensus No. 1 at his position. Thanks to the San Francisco 49ers, the 22-year-old has also become the No. 6 selection overall. The 2005 Associated Press first-team All-America led the Atlantic Coast Conference (and was second in the nation among tight ends) in receiving yards with 871 during the regular season. He also finished fourth in the conference with 17.1 yards per catch, tied for third with six receiving touchdowns and tied for fourth with 51 receptions.

In 2002 and 2003 Davis was a highly regarded recruit out of Washington, D.C.'s Dunbar High School, where he was a 6-foot-3, 220-pounder who had run the 40 in the low 4.5s. Several schools recruited him, but not all of them wanted to use him as a pass-catcher; some colleges wanted to put his size and skills at use at defensive end or linebacker. Davis obviously wanted to play on the offensive side of the ball. Scouting services considered him the top D.C.-area prospect as well as a top-five player at tight end and an overall top-100 recruit.

Davis ended up at Maryland, where he played more than any other true freshman in '03, playing in all 13 contests, mostly on special teams, and caught five passes for 59 yards. In '04 he played in 11 of the Terrapins' 12 games, including six starts, when he filled the role of H-back and had what coaches saw as his breakout campaign. He had 27 receptions and led the team in receiving yards (441) and touchdown catches (three). All of his scores came in one game, the team's fourth of the season, in which he notched his first career 100-yard effort; he achieved that feat once more and finished one yard short of doing so a third time.

Already a gifted athlete, he was now learning to develop his understanding of the game and the offense. He entered '05 with the second highest strength index on the squad and even higher expectations. Davis didn't disappoint, rolling up 100 yards or more in four games and snagging four passes or more in all but two contests. In Game 2 he hauled in six passes for 140 yards and a score; he followed that with five catches, 158 yards with a touchdown. In Maryland's 10th game, he grabbed seven balls for 139 yards and a score. He punctuated his college career with eight catches for 108 yards and a touchdown in Maryland's final game of the season. That put the finishing touches on a spectacular coming-out party of a season in which he was a John Mackey award (nation's top tight end) finalist after a career marked by athletic leaps, grabs and feats like hurdling and splitting defenders.

Positives

Working most in Davis' favor is that he carries the "athlete" tag, usually hearing words like "amazing," "incredible" and "unbelievable" precede it. Scouts note that he has exceptional hands. His speed (he ran a 4.38 40 at the NFL Combine) allows him to escape from defenders, get downfield, make big plays and run after the catch. He's also extremely strong (he holds virtually all of the strength records for Terrapins tight ends) and a great leaper (40-inch vertical jump). He gets off the line of scrimmage very well. Davis' combination of raw physical abilities makes him a match-up nightmare, but he also knows how to get open and, because he occasionally lined up at fullback as well as wide receiver, he's very versatile. He has a reputation as a hard worker and showed improvement in each season; scouts believe he still has loads of untapped potential.

Negatives

At 6-foot-3, 253 pounds, Davis doesn't possess what scouts deem ideal height for his position (he's one of the shortest tight ends in the draft). Although he has improved, the Maryland product is not very accomplished as a blocker.

He sometimes plays as more of a wide receiver than a tight end. He's not quite as comfortable running the short-to-intermediate routes. Many view him as a raw player who needs to better grasp the subtle aspects of the game.

Summary

The selection of Davis at No. 6 gives the 49ers and quarterback Alex D. Smith a much-needed safety valve, similar to the role that tight end Eric Johnson filled for San Francisco during the '04 season. Davis also gives them a player with the potential to wreak havoc in the secondary and take some pressure off outside threats like wide receiver Arnaz Battle and the recently acquired Antontio Bryant by drawing attention toward the middle of the field.

Such a pick can certainly aid the development of Smith, but the team should still address needs along the offensive line for such an inexperienced offense to improve.