Devron Davis, CB, Texas-San Antonio: 2018 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Devron Davis, a 2016 three-star JUCO recruit, has started three of 13 career games for Texas-San Antonio.

Before playing for the Roadrunners, Devron Davis spent two seasons at Merced Community College. He played in 19 games at Merced, recording 74 tackles, seven interceptions and 14 passes defended.

After the 2015 season, Davis was recruited heavily by several power-five schools. However, he decided to sign with Colorado State. A few months later, he asked for and was granted his release from the program.

He would transfer to Texas-San Antonio and played in all 13 games as a junior, primarily lining up at left cornerback in the Roadrunners 4-2-5 defense. Davis cracked the starting lineup late in the season, starting the final three games at cornerback. He possesses good size and length on a strong frame with adequate athletic ability.

Measurables

Height: 6’0”

Weight: 210 lbs.

Games Watched

2016: Arizona State, New Mexico, Southern Mississippi, Texas A&M

Strengths

Davis displays good instincts as he recognizes routes quickly and mirrors the receiver. Once the pass is in the air, he tracks the ball well and possesses solid closing speed to make a play.

That is exactly what happened in the play below. The safety in the middle of the field jumps the wheel route out of the backfield, leaving Davis all alone with the receiver at the bottom of the screen. The middle of the field is wide open, and the receiver initially has a step on Davis. The cornerback closes quickly and is just able to knock the ball away to prevent a significant gain.

The ball skills were evident on that play and can be seen on the next play as well. Here, Davis is left one-on-one with 6-foot-3 Josh Reynolds of Texas A&M. Reynolds, a fourth-round pick of the Los Angeles Rams in the 2017 NFL Draft, was one of the best jump ball receivers in college football last season. On more than one occasion during this game, Davis did just as he does in the play below; he rips the ball away from Reynolds just as the receiver is coming down with it. Even when matched up with receivers much taller and longer, such as Reynolds, Davis utilizes his awareness and play strength to win one-on-one battles for the football.

Against the run, Davis can disengage from blocks quickly and get into position. He does an outstanding job of setting the edge and forcing the ball carrier back inside. He demonstrates good awareness from the outside and utilizes the sideline as an extra defender. On inside runs, Davis displays good competitive toughness as he fights through traffic while taking solid angles to the ball. He’s an excellent tackler who can be counted on to make stops in the open field.

Weaknesses

When Davis presses a receiver, stiff hips and flat feet hurt his ability to change direction quickly and run with the receiver. The following play against New Mexico is a good example of why this is costly.

With a receiver in motion, the lone deep safety is forced to move to the offense’s left, leaving Davis and a wideout alone to the right. Davis doesn’t attempt to jam the receiver at the line of scrimmage to throw off the timing of the route. Instead, he is late to bail, and the receiver easily gets by him within the first five yards. Davis does not possess enough recovery speed and has no choice but to grab the receiver from behind and draw the flag.

The adequate athletic ability Davis displays in press is overly compensated for in off coverage. He gives a large cushion throughout the route, and a marginal angular body position prevents him from planting and driving to the ball quick enough on comeback routes. Texas A&M took advantage of these large windows and picked on Davis with underneath routes.

As a run defender, Davis can get over aggressive when rushing around the edge and will overrun plays in which the ball carrier remains patient.

Overall

Overall, Devron Davis is a developmental cornerback at the next level who wins with play strength and ball skills. He’s not someone who should be left alone on an island against NFL-caliber receivers. Davis possesses the skillset to play in either a Cover 1 or Cover 2 defense.

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In Cover 1, he can remain aggressive and physical in man coverage knowing he has a free safety over the top if he gets beat deep. In Cover 2, he’s able to play close to the line of scrimmage in zone coverage and take away short and intermediate passes without needing to give the receiver a large cushion. This defense also allows Davis to contribute as a run defender, something he has excelled at in college.

This defense also allows Davis to contribute as a run defender, something he has excelled at in college.

Davis isn’t going to be mentioned among the top cornerbacks in this year’s draft class. However, he is someone who is worth an investment in the later rounds or as an undrafted free agent.

Next: 2018 Mock Draft

Entering his first season as a full-time starter, Davis has an opportunity to significantly improve his stock. The first two games are the real litmus test for Davis, as he will go up against high-powered offenses in Houston and Baylor.

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