Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, September 14, 1994 TAG: 9409150012
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium
Davis rarely is mentioned with the elite receivers of his era, much less the conference's all-time greats.
Davis never has made first-, second- or third-team All-ACC, even though he was on a pace after three years to set a conference record for yards per reception.
``I think I've proven that I have All-ACC potential,'' said Davis, a senior from South Boston. ``To look at some of the preseason [All-ACC] teams, I would think I'd at least be mentioned. As far as that goes, I think I've been neglected.''
It appeared Davis might plunge into total obscurity when he had one 5-yard reception in an injury-shortened appearance against Florida State, but he experienced a rebirth Saturday night, when he had nine receptions for 119 yards in a 47-10 victory over Navy.
Davis victimized respected Navy cornerback Chris Hart for three touchdowns - the first three-touchdown performance by a UVa receiver in 20 years. It gave Davis 21 touchdown receptions in his career, five at Navy-Marine Corps Stadium.
``You reach your hands out and you still can't defend him,'' said George Chaump, Navy's coach. ``He's 6-[foot-]6 and runs 4.4 [seconds for 40 yards]. If I had him, hmmm, where would I play him?''
Although he is listed at 6 feet 5 and 225 pounds, Davis says he is a shade over 6-4 in bare feet. The 40-yard time is fairly accurate, however.
``I think he's a big-league receiver,'' said UVa coach George Welsh, who repeatedly has stressed the importance of getting Davis involved in the offense. ``He's been hurt. He's still hurt, [but] I don't know what we'd do without him.''
There is a perception of Davis as injury-prone, even though he never has missed a game in his college career, starting 26 of the past 27. He suffered a broken thumb last year against North Carolina, but was fitted for a cast and started the next week.
In hindsight, that might have been a mistake. Davis, who would have undergone surgery if he had given his approval, dropped four passes in a 34-29 loss at North Carolina State.
``I don't regret playing with the injury,'' he said. ``I do regret the outcome. I guess I'm kind of thickheaded. After the first two misses, I should gave realized I couldn't catch the ball and just sat out the rest of the game.''
Davis didn't start the next week against Wake Forest, but caught a 37-yard touchdown pass in the first half. In his career, he has 15 receptions of 35 yards or more, seven for touchdowns.
Davis also has a 51-yard run on a reverse and has returned kicks on occasion. However, his days as a return man may have ended when he took a helmet to the kneecap at Florida State.
``No [more] special teams!'' Davis said. ``At Florida State, I wasn't returning the ball anyway. I was blocking. Last year, when I fractured my thumb, it came on a punt return.''
Davis wanted to return to the game at Florida State, but spent most of the second half on the sideline and watched freshman Germane Crowell catch two touchdown passes in his place.
``I hate to say it, but we looked at the Navy game as a chance to build up our stats,'' Davis said.
The three touchdown receptions moved Davis ahead of John Ford, a former All-ACC selection who caught 20 touchdown passes for Virginia from 1984-88CQ, redshirted in '85. Herman Moore, an All-American in 1990, holds the school record with 27.
``I was pleased with my first two seasons,'' Davis said. ``Coming into my third year, I looked at what I had done and had some expectations. I wanted at least 30 receptions for around 800 yards and 10 touchdowns. Unfortunately, that didn't happen.''
Davis, dubbed ``the next Herman Moore'' shortly after his arrival at UVa, realizes he won't break Moore's school records for receptions and receiving yardage in a career. However, he has a good shot at the touchdown record and second place on the ACC's all-time list behind Duke's Clarkston Hines (38).
It may be that Davis' most impressive feat will come off the field. Although he originally was rejected by UVa's admissions office and spent a year at Fork Union Military Academy despite meeting NCAA requirements, Davis is on schedule to graduate in four years.
``I'm sure there were people in admissions who looked at some of [the football players] and wondered whether we should have been let in,'' said Davis, a history major. ``It's gratifying for me to come in and show them, `Just give somebody an opportunity and let him take it from there.'''
Keywords:
FOOTBALL
by CNB