If your favorite NFL team is looking for a battle-tested cornerback prospect in the 2020 draft, Auburn’s Javaris Davis is the man for the job.
Davis recently spoke exclusively with Draft Wire about playing in multiple all-star games, his experience at the NFL Scouting Combine, and what kind of player he’ll be at the next level.
JM: You made your rounds through the all-star circuit. You were invited to both the Senior Bowl and the East-West Shrine Game. What was the experience like?
JD: It was a great experience. It gave me an opportunity to compete with some of the best athletes in the nation. I was thankful for the opportunity. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me and one that I’ll forever cherish. I feel like I made the most of the opportunity. I had a lot of fun. I met with some NFL coaches and general managers. I’m excited to be on this journey. I’m just getting started.
JM: You come from a bit of a football family. You’re cousins with both Vontae and Vernon Davis. What’s the best advice they’ve ever given you?
JD: They taught me to stay grounded. They taught me the value of hard work. They basically told me to never take a day off. It’s all about consistency. That goes for both football and everyday life. They make sure that I remain consistent.
JM: You lit up the 40-yard dash at the combine with an official time of 4.39. How did you enjoy the combine?
JD: It was a long process, but as long as you trust the process, you’re gonna be just fine. That’s how I looked at it. I met so many NFL coaches and general managers down there as well. Having those meetings with some NFL personnel was a great experience for me. A lot of collegiate athletes don’t get a chance to go to the combine. I’m just blessed to have had the experience at my age.
JM: Did you expect to run the time that you did?
JD: I actually expected to run a better time. I had a bit of an issue with my hamstring going into the combine. It was a little something that I suffered during the training process. It messed up my timing a little bit. I was expecting to run a lower time. It is what it is.
JM: Did you have a lot of formal or informal interviews out there?
JD: I did. I had a lot of formals actually. I met formally with the Colts, Cowboys, Giants, Falcons and Rams. I enjoyed all of those meetings.
JM: Obviously this COVID-19 outbreak has impacted your private visit and workout schedule. Were you able to get any of those meetings in before the shutdown?
JD: I was able to get in a private workout with the Bengals. I did that a few weeks ago. That’s the only one I was able to get in though.
JM: Which teams were you supposed to meet with?
JD: I was supposed to meet with the Jets, Dolphins, Patriots, Lions, Ravens, Chiefs and Raiders. We’ll see what happens. I had a full schedule but the COVID-19 has obviously had it’s impact. Everything is up in the air right now. I’m thankful to all of the teams for showing interest in me.
JM: You’ve been called “undersized” in the past. How do you respond?
JD: It really doesn’t offend me. God made me the size that I am, and I’ve seen plenty of players with similar body types to mine go on and be very successful at the next level. It just adds more fuel to the fire. You can put on the tape and see that my size didn’t matter at all. I’ve played cornerback on the outside, nickelback and free safety. My size didn’t matter at any of those positions. Being so versatile has put me in match-ups with guys that are bigger than me and size was never the determining factor in those reps.
Nickel is my favorite position anyways. That’s where most of these NFL teams see me playing at. It allows me to use my ability and my instincts to make a lot of plays. I can play outside if that’s where they need me to play. I can play special teams as well.
JM: How do you cover a bigger receiver differently than you would a smaller one?
JD: There’s a lot that goes into it. I love watching film. What the film tells me will ultimately be the biggest factor in determining how I’m gonna approach covering this guy. Receivers come in all shapes and sizes. I pay close attention to their releases. Some of these receivers are one-dimensional. Some of them are great at this one thing but I can gain the upper hand by taking that one thing away. That’s how you can throw a blanket on their entire game.
The really big receivers want you to be physical with them. They just wanna use their size to bully you. They lean on their physicality. I try to give them a little cushion. I basically let them come to me. You have to be patient. You gotta play through their hands. You have to trust what you see. Read-and-react.
JM: What kind of player is Javaris Davis going to be at the next level?
JD: I’m gonna be a play-maker in every sense of the word. I’m gonna be a leader. I’m a team-first kinda guy. I’m trying to win a Super Bowl. That’s the ultimate goal right there. I’m gonna do whatever my team needs me to do. I’m gonna remain consistent. You know what you’re getting in me. I’m always the same guy. What you see is what you get both on and off the field. I’m excited for what’s ahead.
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