|
Oct
28
|
Posted by sf49ers
October 28, 2007 |
|
Vernon Davis #85
Acquired: D-1 2006 - 6th overall
Height: 6-3
Weight: 253
College: Maryland
CAREER: Brought an instant play-making threat to the 49ers offense with his tremendous size, strength, speed and after-catch abilities…Finished rookie campaign with 20 catches for 265 yards and three touchdowns despite missing six games with a cracked fibula…Scored on his first NFL touch in the season-opener at Arizona (9-10)…Was regarded by many as the best pass catching tight end in college football…Sixth overall choice in the 2006 NFL Draft was Maryland’s highest pick since Randy White was selected as the second overall selection by the Dallas Cowboys in 1975…Is the 49ers’ second player (QB Bernie Faloney) taken in the first round from the University of Maryland.
TRANSACTIONS: Originally a first round (6th overall pick) draft choice by San Francisco in 2006…Was the first of two first round picks.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
2006:
• Played in 10 games with eight starts. Inactive for six contests with a cracked fibula.
• Finished season with 20 catches for 265 yards (13.3 avg.) and three touchdowns. Also rushed two times for five yards.
• In his first regular season game and his FIRST CAREER START, caught CAREER-HIGH five passes for 37 yards and his FIRST CAREER TOUCHDOWN at Arizona (9-10). His 31-yard touchdown came on his first ever touch of the ball in the NFL, marking the second consecutive year that a 49ers rookie scored on his first touch (Otis Amey returned a punt for a touchdown in 2005 opening game against St. Louis).
• Saw action at tight end vs. Philadelphia (9-24) but did not start in the two tight end blocking set. Left the game with a strained calf and fractured fibula in the third quarter and did not return.
• Inactive at Kansas City (10-1), vs. Oakland (10-8), vs. San Diego (10-15), at Chicago (10-29), vs. Minnesota (11-5) and at Detroit (11-12) while recovering from the cracked fibula suffered against Philadelphia.
• Played vs. Seattle (11-19) for the first time since cracking fibula in Week 3 against Philadelphia. Played five snaps on offense, but did not record a statistic.
• Started at tight end vs. Green Bay (12-10) and caught three passes for 74 yards and rushed one time for nine yards. Also snagged a CAREER-HIGH 52-yard touchdown from QB Alex Smith in the fourth quarter. Was longest reception by a tight end since Eric Johnson had a 38-yard catch in 2002 against the New York Giants (9-5).
• Started at tight end at Seattle (12-14) and made three receptions for 15 yards, including an eight-yard fourth-quarter touchdown, his second consecutive game with a touchdown reception.
• Started at tight end vs. Arizona (12-24) and caught four passes for a CAREER-HIGH 91 yards.
• Started in a two tight end set at Denver (12-31) and finished with three receptions for 16 yards.
COLLEGE:
• Ran an astounding 4.38 in the 40-yard dash at the 2006 NFL Combine in Indianapolis.
• Lined up at fullback, H-back and flanker at Maryland.
• One of Maryland’s finest and most complete athletes, boasting the second-best strength index (797) on the squad. Displayed excellent strength (460-pound bench press) and incredible leaping ability (40-inch vertical jump).
• An Iron Terp performer (top weight room award). Holds the school strength records for a tight end in bench (460), power clean (355), vertical jump (40 inches), index (797), squat (685) and 40-yard dash time (4.41), based on recordings in the spring of 2005.
• Earned consensus All-America honors as a junior, including accolades from the Associated Press, becoming the first Maryland offensive player since 1955 (center Bob Pellegrini) to be named to AP’s first-team.
• Ranks 13th in school history with 93 receptions. His 1,371 yards receiving rank 11th in Maryland annals. His nine touchdown catches tied for ninth on the school’s all-time record list.
• Consensus All-America and All-Atlantic Coast Conference first-team selection junior season in 2005. Finalist for the Mackey Award, given to the nation’s top tight end. Started every game, leading the team with 51 receptions and the conference with 871 receiving yards (17.1 avg.). Six touchdown catches rank tenth on the school’s season-record list and 51 receptions also rank tenth on the Terrapins annual record chart while 871 yards rank fifth.
• Played in all 11 games sophomore season. Finished second on the team with 27 catches and led Terrapins with 441 receiving yards and team-high three touchdowns. Ranked eighth in the ACC with 40.1 receiving yards per game.
• Saw the most consistent action of any true freshman, playing in all 13 contests. Snagged five receptions for 59 yards (11.8 avg.) and led the kickoff coverage unit with eight solo tackles.
• Majored in art studio.
PERSONAL:
• Born Vernon Davis (1-31-84) in Washington, D.C.
• Nickname “The Duke” originated from a name he inherited from his father who was called “Duke.” Originally nicknamed “Little Duke.” At Maryland, media added “The” and dropped “Little.”
• Started three seasons at tight end and safety at Dunbar (Washington, D.C.) High School but also saw time at wide receiver, kick returner, linebacker and defensive end during his tenure.
• Team compiled a 31-5 record during his time at Dunbar High School.
• Rated as the third-best tight end in the nation by ESPN.com’s Tom Lemming and was a member of Super Prep’s Elite 50. Mid-Atlantic All-Region pick by Super Prep and rated the third-best player (at any position) in the region.
• As a senior, was chosen second-team All-USA by USA Today. Caught 21 passes for 511 yards (24.3 avg.) and five touchdowns despite missing three games with a deep bone bruise below his knee. Also caught three two-point conversions and returned four kicks (two kickoffs and two punts) for touchdowns.
• Selected to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl as a junior.
• Was the DCIAA champion in the high jump with a leap of 6-5.
• Made his first $10,000 donation to Newborn Pentecostal in honor of his grandmother, Adaline, who raised Vernon and his six siblings. Pledged to make the donation annually to help the church refurbish and expand its building.
DAVIS’ NFL STATISTICS:
|
YEAR
|
TEAM
|
GP
|
GS
|
REC
|
YDS
|
AVG
|
LG
|
TD
|
RUSH
|
YDS
|
AVG
|
LG
|
TD
|
|
2006
|
SF
|
10
|
8
|
20
|
265
|
13.3
|
52t
|
3
|
2
|
5
|
2.5
|
9
|
0
|
|
NFL
|
TOTALS
|
10
|
8
|
20
|
265
|
13.3
|
52t
|
3
|
2
|
5
|
2.5
|
9
|
0
|
DAVIS’ CAREER HIGHS
Receptions – 5 at Arizona (9-10-06)
Receiving Yards – 91 vs. Arizona (12-24-06)
Long Reception – 52t vs. Green Bay (12-10-06)
Touchdown Receptions – 1 (three times) Last at Seattle (12-14-06)
Source: sf49ers.com
Comments
