120 Players You Need To
Know
Rutgers OT Anthony Davis
By
Richard Cirminiello
Who is Anthony Davis?
… Davis is not just an ordinary left tackle. He is a
6-6, 335-pound symbol of the transformation that’s taken place in
Piscataway. Ten years ago, a player of his caliber would have
laughed at the possibility of staying home and playing for the
Scarlet Knights. Why would a five-star talent ever consider the
laughingstock that was Rutgers football? Two years ago, however, he
did indeed select the local team, turning down offers from heavy
hitters, like USC, Ohio State, and Florida State. It was the most
definitive sign to date that head coach Greg Schiano could keep
blue-chip talent from leaving New Jersey, long the Achilles’ heel of
the program. Davis has not disappointed in two years, starting at
guard as a rookie before shifting to tackle a year ago, earning
All-Big East honors. Now the cornerstone of the offensive line, he
plans to be one of the line leaders as long as he’s on campus. That
could be two years, or one if he continues to perform like a future
first-day NFL Draft choice. Massive linemen, who move like Davis and
protect the quarterback’s blindside, have a knack for attracting
attention from folks at the next level.
Anthony Davis’ best game so
far was … last Oct. 25 year at Pittsburgh. Davis was one of the
unsung heroes of Rutgers’ shocking 54-34 blowout of the Panthers,
which helped trigger a seven-game, season-ending winning streak. He
neutralized Pitt’s top sacker Greg Romeus, making it possible for QB
Mike Teel to throw for 361 yards and six touchdowns.
Why you should care about
Davis? … One of the really good young left tackles in America,
he’s nowhere near his full potential. Davis is one of those rare
offensive linemen, who NFL teams invest first-round draft choices
on, and build a front wall around. He run blocks, pass protects, and
is only at halftime of his Scarlet Knight career. Get a good look
now because he’s one of those rising juniors who’ll give serious
consideration to leaving school early following the 2009 season.
Positives about Davis
… At 6-6 and 335 pounds, he has the size, strength, and tenacity to
simply destroy defenders, especially when he gets out of the box and
out to the second level. For his size, he has surprising footwork,
and is equally sound run blocking as pass blocking. With a gigantic
wingspan, he’s able to stun pass rushers, preventing them from ever
getting traction.
Negatives about Davis …
With just one year of college experience at left tackle, Davis still
has work to do with his technique and fundamentals, especially when
it comes to pass protection. While hardly a stiff, at 335 pounds, he
isn’t exactly ready for a spot on
Dancing with the Stars
either. By getting a little lighter on his feet, he’ll be better
equipped to handle speed rushers around the edge.
A cool thing about Davis you
probably didn’t know … Coming out of Piscataway (N.J) High
School, Davis weighed a whopping 370 pounds, which was substantially
more than Greg Schiano wanted. Following a strict diet and workout
regimen, he pared more than 50 pounds, improving his overall
strength and quickness.
Statistics, information and photo provided by the
Rutgers sports information department