2020 NFL Draft: DB Ashtyn Davis could be a surprise first-round pick

With a strong performance at the NFL Scouting Combine, Cal defensive back Ashtyn Davis could quickly become a strong contender to go in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

There is undoubtedly a lot to like about the safety class in the 2020 NFL Draft. Entering the season, LSU safety Grant Delpit was considered the clear top prospect in the class. However, an uninspiring year by Delpit has opened the door for other players to get into the conversation.

Either Delpit or Alabama’s Xavier McKinney are considered by most to be the top safety in the 2020 NFL draft class. That being said, I have my eye on Ashtyn Davis out of Cal, and when it’s all said and done, I would not be surprised if Davis ends up landing in the first round.

Davis is an extremely talented player who was a two-sport star at Cal. He not only dominated on the football field, but Davis was also an impressive track and field competitor who was a second-team All American in track in 2018.

On the football field, Davis was a four-year contributor for the Golden Bears, taking on a full-time defensive role in his last two seasons. Davis is an explosive athlete at the safety position who shows fantastic natural speed and closes ground quickly. He has plenty of range on the back-end and shows nice instincts in man-to-man and deep zone coverage.

Davis’ speed and athleticism make him an obvious fit as a deep safety at the next level, but he can also come up and make plays in-the-box. He is a physical and high motor player who is not afraid to mix it up in the middle of the field. Davis also shows the ability to defend the slot at an extremely high level.

Do not look at Davis as just a track guy. He has the raw speed and athleticism of a track athlete, but he is also a smart, tough and instinctive football player who has a bright future at the next level.

With his impressive athletic profile, Davis is likely to put up extremely impressive numbers at the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine. He is going to dominate the speed, quickness and leaping drills and will force everybody to go back to the tape. After the combine, I expect that we will start hearing much more about Davis as a first-round prospect in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Delpit and McKinney are both impressive safety prospects who have bright futures at the next level. However, they are not the clear top two prospects at the position in this draft class. Davis undoubtedly deserves to be in that conversation and he will prove it at the Combine.