NCAA Scouting - Player Profile:
Nate Davis, QB, Ball State by Jody Jamieson
1/3/2009
We all know the NFL is pretty stuck in it's ways when it comes to a lot of things, but they way players are evaluated players is one of the things that does evolve over time. However, we'll really see how stuck in it's ways the league is when it comes to evaluating Nate Davis. The reason being that Davis throws a football without using the laces. While most people like to get their fingers round the edges of the laces at the very least, Davis throws with the laces inside and doesn't get his fingers close to them. Problem? Well it really shouldn't be. After all it's not how you throw the ball, it's how well you throw it. You'd think his style of throwing the football may take away from his accuracy, but on the contrary his accuracy is his defining feature. Some may point to the lack of competition in the Mid-American Conference as another warning flag, but the MAC has a habit of producing some good quarterbacks. Remember, our current reigning Super Bowl champion has a MAC product under center.
Davis is an exciting prospect and I'm well aware of the fact that I may be selling him short listing him as the number 5 QB in this years Draft. I have Matt Stafford, Mark Sanchez, Josh Freeman and now Pat White ranked higher. I think Davis has the tools to be a starter, but he threw up a massive red flag in his last two college games for me. After leading Ball State to a 12-0 regular season record, Buffalo shocked them in the MAC Championship Game with a 42-24 win. Davis stat line was OK (31/48 for 351 yards with 1 TD and a pick) but his performance was a little below par and he was responsible for 5 turnovers. He followed that up with a terrible performance in the GMAC Bowl against Tulsa, going 9/29 for 145 yards and an INT. It threw up two questions. Did Davis burn out as the season wore on? Or is he not a particularly clutch performer? Watching him play I put it to burn out, but that's not a particularly better sign than struggling in crunch time. I like him as a player, but he's going to have to sit early and learn the system, and when he gets his chance he's going to have to prove over a season he can be effective in the NFL. He's a young guy, so there's plenty of time, but his dip at the end of the season really did worry me.
What we like about Davis
He has all the physical tools. Good strong arm and his accuracy is extremely impressive. Good touch on his passes. Good mobility and can throw on the run. Makes plays with his legs despite his lack of timed speed, but is a smart guy who runs as a last resort and won't take an unnecessary hit. Throws a nice accurate deep ball. Makes quick reads and could be a good fit for a West Coast Offense. Is only 6' 1" but has a fairly high release to compensate. Nice poise and doesn't get happy feet under pressure.
Question marks about Davis
Zeros in on his intended receiver and needs to learn to look defenders off. Played a lot of his college career from the shotgun and wore gloves to help with his struggles under center. Competition may be a slight, but as said previously, the MAC has produced good quarterbacks in the past. Will definitely need time to sit and learn, and may not be ready in time for the start of 2010. Could maybe have benefited from another year in college, but his Head Coach moved on which likely made his decision.
Highlight of his college career
It's a great testament to the season Ball State had that there was a debate about the Cardinals perhaps getting a BCS bid due to their 12-0 regular season. Obviously the competition was always going to make that difficult and they put paid to their chances by losing the MAC Championship game, but they turned heads in 2008.
Other snippets
6' 1" tall and weighed in at 226 lbs at the Combine. He ran a 4.98 40 yard dash.
Ben Roethlisberger, Chad Pennington and Byron Leftwich are all products of the Mid-American Conference.
His brother Jose is an Arena League starter with the Cleveland Gladiators.
May be a surprise selection of the Detroit Lions at #33 overall if they don't take a QB in round 1. Most likely going to be taken in the middle of Round 2 with the Jets and Bucs prime contenders.
NCAA Scouting - Player Profile:
Davis is an exciting prospect and I'm well aware of the fact that I may be selling him short listing him as the number 5 QB in this years Draft. I have Matt Stafford, Mark Sanchez, Josh Freeman and now Pat White ranked higher. I think Davis has the tools to be a starter, but he threw up a massive red flag in his last two college games for me. After leading Ball State to a 12-0 regular season record, Buffalo shocked them in the MAC Championship Game with a 42-24 win. Davis stat line was OK (31/48 for 351 yards with 1 TD and a pick) but his performance was a little below par and he was responsible for 5 turnovers. He followed that up with a terrible performance in the GMAC Bowl against Tulsa, going 9/29 for 145 yards and an INT. It threw up two questions. Did Davis burn out as the season wore on? Or is he not a particularly clutch performer? Watching him play I put it to burn out, but that's not a particularly better sign than struggling in crunch time. I like him as a player, but he's going to have to sit early and learn the system, and when he gets his chance he's going to have to prove over a season he can be effective in the NFL. He's a young guy, so there's plenty of time, but his dip at the end of the season really did worry me.