Tag: Tacario Davis

Chiefs scouting report: Arizona Wildcats CB Tacario Davis

Arizona #Wildcats cornerback Tacario Davis could be a target for the Kansas City #Chiefs in the 2025 NFL draft.

The Kansas City Chiefs suffered several injuries in their cornerback room this season that exposed a lack of depth. Expect general manager Brett Veach to target reinforcements in the 2025 NFL draft.

Arizona Wildcats standout Tacario Davis is a young, tall cornerback prospect with excellent arm length that helps him jam and re-route wide receivers. He uses patient footwork in off-man and zone assignments to mirror smaller, more agile receivers. Davis’ long legs and tall frame lead to some natural stiffness, but he flips his hips well for a cornerback with his build.

Davis absorbs routes at the top of the stem in off-man coverage and uses his arm length advantage to deter throws. He drives receivers toward the sideline on vertical routes, which narrows the throwing window. Davis lacks elite speed but offers sufficient juice to stay in phase and carry most receivers vertically.

Davis’ tools suggest he fits the mold of a press corner, but some of the limitations created by his size make him a better fit for zone assignments early in his career. He will play more press coverage once he perfects his technique and drives more power through his jams.

Davis is still developing his instincts in zone coverage, but his flashes of recognizing and attempting to jump routes suggest he’s headed in the right direction. He makes the most of his length at the catch point. Davis plays the ball from unique angles and blots out the sun in jump ball situations. He rakes the receiver’s hands to strip potential receptions.

Arizona hosts the No. 16 Arizona Sun Devils in the 98th edition of the Territorial Cup on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. CST.

Indianapolis Colts get help in secondary in early 2025 NFL mock draft

In an early 2025 mock draft from Doug Farrar, the Colts get help in their secondary, selecting Arizona DB Tacario Davis.

In an early 2025 NFL mock draft from Doug Farrar of Touchdown Wire, he has the Colts addressing the secondary in the first round, selecting Arizona defensive back Tacario Davis at 13th overall.

Listed at 6-4 – 195 pounds, Davis has excellent size, which we know the Colts covet at the cornerback position. The 2023 season was Davis’ first as a stater and he put together an impressive year, with almost all of his snaps coming as an outside corner.

Davis would miss only two of his 27 tackle attempts and in coverage, allowed a completion rate of just 42.6 percent on 54 targets. He held opponents to 12.6 yards per catch and had one interception and his 15 pass breakups were the most in the Pac-12.

Davis was also named a member of the AP Second-Team All-Pac-12.

“Davis still has a few things to work out regarding staying in phase all the way through the route,” wrote Farrar, “but that’s not uncommon with bigger defenders who have more to move. The upside to Davis’ game is that when everything’s in sync, he is an extremely oppressive pass defender who can just wipe receivers off the stat sheet.”

The cornerback position was considered by many to be a top need for the Colts this offseason. However, the only outside additions made came on Day 3 of the draft, telling us that internally, the Colts are bullish about the current room that they have.

Contributing to what is expected to be improved play from the unit this season is health, with both JuJu Brents and Dallis Flowers able to participate in OTAs and minicamp, along with the experience that was gained by a young unit in 2023.

Outside of Kenny Moore in the nickel, defensive coordinator Gus Bradley mentioned earlier this offseason that the battle for the two starting boundary cornerback positions was “wide open.”

Throughout offseason programs, it appeared that Brents had a firm grasp on one of those starting spots, while Jayon Jones and Flowers will be competing for the opening opposite of Brents. In the early going, it has been Jones taking those reps.

“I think all those guys, obviously, we drafted two young guys, but I think with Jaylon Jones, Dallis, and JuJu, they’re long, rangy guys that are physical when they get up and press,” said Shane Steichen during minicamp.

“They got good vision. I love those guys. It’s a good room. A good competition there. It’s going to be a good competition, obviously, in minicamp and OTAs, but going into training camp is going to be big for all those guys.”

The Colts believe that the skill sets and potential are there in the cornerback room, but the defense now needs that to translate into production if they’re going to improve in 2024. Last season, Indianapolis ranked in the bottom third of the NFL in explosive pass plays allowed and pass breakups.

5 Arizona Wildcats to know ahead of the Valero Alamo Bowl

Taking a look at five Arizona Wildcats to know as Oklahoma prepares for the Valero Alamo Bowl.

Oklahoma’s final game of the 2023 season will see them return to San Antonio for the second time in three years. The last time the Sooners were there, they were coached by legendary Oklahoma coach [autotag]Bob Stoops[/autotag]. Brent Venables will wrap up his second campaign as the head man at Oklahoma, returning to San Antonio to take on the Arizona Wildcats, led by head coach Jedd Fisch.

This season has been a much better experience than his inaugural one, and Venables will look for his first bowl win as a head coach. To get that, the Sooners will have to take down a tough Arizona team that finished 9-3 and third in an ultra-competitive Pac-12. Fisch has a hungry team that certainly is talented, with 13 players receiving all-conference honors.

Oklahoma would be wise to check their egos at the door and remain humble. Arizona won’t roll over, and if the Sooners approach this game taking the Wildcats lightly, they may get run off the field.

Arizona has a surplus of impact upperclassmen coupled with Pac-12 Freshman of the Year quarterback Noah Fifita.

Let’s look at Arizona and break down some key Wildcats ahead of Thursday’s Alamo Bowl.