Fred Davis (tight end)

Infobox NFLactive
name=Fred Davis


caption=Fred Davis at the Redskins 2008 training camp
currentteam=Washington Redskins
currentnumber=86
currentposition=Tight end
|birthdate=birth date and age|1986|1|15
birthplace=Toledo, Ohio
heightft=6
heightin=4
weight=247
debutyear=2008
debutteam=Washington Redskins
college=Southern California
draftyear=2008
draftround=2
draftpick=48
pastteams=
* Washington Redskins (2008-present)
status=Active
highlights=
* Consensus First-team All-Pac-10 (2007)
* Second-team AP All-American (2007)
* John Mackey Award (2007)
statweek=
statseason=
statlabel1=
statvalue1=
statlabel2=
statvalue2=
statlabel3=
statvalue3=
nfl=DAV318170

Fred Davis (born January 15, 1986 in city-state|Toledo|Ohio) is an American football tight end for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Redskins in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Southern California.

Early years

Davis prepped at Rogers High School in Toledo. He was on the USA Today All-USA second team. According to Scout.com, Davis was rated the second best wide receiver in his recruiting class coming out of high school. [ [http://usc.scout.com/a.z?s=15&p=9&c=4&yr=2004 USC 2004 Football Recruiting Class] ] Davis played in the 2004 U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

As a high school junior, Davis considered attending Ohio State because it was the first program to offer him an athletic scholarship. His senior season resulted in many other offers, with USC winning out with a combination of weather, location, coaches, quality players and a style of offense that suited Davis; he conversed the matter over with fellow recruit Dwayne Jarrett before they both decided to join the Trojans.LQ Singian, [http://wearesc.com/news/story.php?article=1260 Exit Interview: Fred Davis] , WeAreSC.com, August 21, 2008, Accessed August 24, 2008.]

College career

Davis graduated from Robert S. Rogers High School in Toledo, OH, a semester early to start spring training with the Trojans.Gary Klein, [http://articles.latimes.com/2007/sep/26/sports/sp-uscdavis26 It takes a while, but Davis catches on] , "Los Angeles Times", September 26, 2007, Accessed August 24, 2008.] Tired of the recruiting process that accompanies top prospects, Davis secretly left Ohio to enroll at USC.LQ Singian, [http://wearesc.com/news/story.php?article=1260 Exit Interview: Fred Davis] , WeAreSC.com, August 21, 2008, Accessed August 24, 2008.] Recruited as a wide receiver, he showed solid speed and raw athletic ability but lacked the route-running skills and ball-catching ability of other receivers. After consulting with then-offensive coordinator Norm Chow, Davis decided to try converting to tight end.Gary Klein, [http://articles.latimes.com/2007/sep/26/sports/sp-uscdavis26 It takes a while, but Davis catches on] , "Los Angeles Times", September 26, 2007, Accessed August 24, 2008.]

His freshman year, Davis contributed as a reserve to the eventual-national champion 2004 USC Trojans football team, playing in nine games and catching four passes behind fellow tight ends Dominique Byrd and Alex Holmes. However, because of repeated incidences of tardiness, reporting late after trips back to Ohio, Davis was not allowed to travel with the Trojans to the BCS National Championship Game in 2005 Orange Bowl. Davis reapplied himself the next season, catching 13 passes in 13 games during the 2005 season, including two in the 2006 Rose Bowl. During the 2006 season, Davis started 10 games and caught 38 passes for 352 yards and three touchdowns.Gary Klein, [http://articles.latimes.com/2007/sep/26/sports/sp-uscdavis26 It takes a while, but Davis catches on] , "Los Angeles Times", September 26, 2007, Accessed August 24, 2008.]

Davis was a preseason team All-Pac-10 player prior to 2007 and was considered a likely high draft choice for the 2008 NFL Draft. He was on the 2007 Mackey Award watch list. Against Washington State, Davis had the best game of his career, with nine receptions for 124 yards and two touchdowns.John Nadel, [http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/recap?gid=200709220062 (1) USC 47, Washington St. 14] , Associated Press, September 22, 2007.] The performance marked the most yards receiving ever in a game by a Trojans tight end.Gary Klein, [http://www.latimes.com/sports/college/usc/la-sp-uscrep24sep24,1,232536.story Trojans find the right balance] , "Los Angeles Times", September 24, 2007.] Prior to that, Davis had never caught more than six passes or gained more than 68 receiving yards in a game.Gary Klein, [http://articles.latimes.com/2007/sep/26/sports/sp-uscdavis26 It takes a while, but Davis catches on] , "Los Angeles Times", September 26, 2007, Accessed August 24, 2008.]

At the end of the 2007 regular season, Davis was selected to the All-Pacific-10 Conference first team by league coaches. [http://www.pac-10.org/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120307aal.html Pac-10 Football Awards and All-Conference Team Announced] , Pacific 10 Conference, December 3, 2007.] He was also selected to the SI.com All-American Second Team. [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/football/ncaa/12/10/all.americas/index.html SI.com's All-Americas] , SI.com, December 11, 2007.] Davis became the first USC player to win the Mackey Award as the nation's top tight end.Gary Klein, [http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-fbcrep7dec07,1,5253193.story Rose Bowl says no deal, for now] , "Los Angeles Times", December 7, 2007.] When asked his favorite game as a USC players, Davis noted the 2006 Rose Bowl.LQ Singian, [http://wearesc.com/news/story.php?article=1260 Exit Interview: Fred Davis] , WeAreSC.com, August 21, 2008, Accessed August 24, 2008.]

Professional career

Washington Redskins

Davis was drafted in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins. On May 4, the last day of the Redskins mini-camp, Davis overslept and missed the morning practice. Head Coach Jim Zorn said that he's young, and he understands that Davis just messed up. On July 19, Davis received a four-year contract from the Redskins worth $3.5 million, including a $1.8 million in bonus money.

References

External links

* [http://usctrojans.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/davis_fred00.html USC Trojans bio]
* [http://redskins.com/team/profile.jsp?id=6788 Washington Redskins bio]