While the SEC is considered to be top-heavy with NFL-ready pass catchers, such as LSU’s Justin Jefferson and Alabama’s terrorizing tandem of DeVonta Smith and Jerry Jeudy, there are many talented players across the conference that get overlooked during the NFL Draft process. Texas A&M’s Quartney Davis is a prime example of a player with tantalizing ability, who has often been overshadowed by his peers from SEC powerhouse schools.
Davis is a player I’ve had my eye on, as someone who will have a tremendous opportunity to boost their stock for the 2020 NFL Draft, should the ascending prospect continue his upward trajectory.
First two seasons
After redshirting as a true freshman in 2016, Davis went on to appear in eight games the following season for the Aggies, though he failed to record any statistics.
Davis managed to parlay a grueling offseason into a spot in the starting lineup in 2018. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound lengthy wideout started 12 of 13 games, finishing with 45 receptions for 585 yards and seven touchdowns — which was good for second on Jimbo Fisher’s Aggies. The team finished with a 9-4 record and qualified for the Gator Bowl.
Redshirt junior season
Davis’ junior campaign got off to a roaring start, beginning with a dominant six-catch, 85-yard, one-touchdown performance against Texas State in the season opener. He would follow that up with a 59-yard afternoon in a 24-10 loss to the Clemson Tigers. Aggies quarterback Kellen Mond struggled to get into any sort of rhythm in the passing game, only mustering 236 yards through the air.
After an injury kept him out of the lineup against Lamar, Davis responded with a five-catch, 82-yard, one-touchdown outing in a heartbreaking loss to the formidable Auburn Tigers. He registered seven catches for 67 yards and two touchdowns against Arkansas last week.
NFL Draft outlook
If he opts to forgo his senior season, Davis has the makings of the NFL’s next diamond in the rough. His unique blend of size, athleticism, catch radius, balance, and the innate ability to track deep balls makes him an enticing prospect heading into the 2020 NFL Draft.
A bit of a raw prospect, Davis’ ideal fit would be a team that isn’t in dire need of a true, number one target right away, but rather one in search of a complementary piece or red zone presence. Though it will likely take a year before he is prepared to make the leap from role player to NFL starter, Davis checks off a multitude of boxes that will likely appeal to NFL Draft evaluators.
For one, Davis lines up against elite competition each week. SEC cornerbacks are typically more instinctual, faster, and more nuanced than any defensive backs you’ll find across the nation. The fact that Davis has competed, and thrived, against top competion bodes well for his future success at the next level.
Another reason to believe that his college success will translate to the NFL, is that his particular skill set aligns with many of the premier wide receivers at the next level.
The big-bodied wideout wins at the line of scrimmage with combative hands and a certain suddenness in his initial movement. He has consistently demonstrated a knack for coming down with contested catches between the hash marks and can be an instant threat in the red zone with the right team. A track and field star at Langham Creek High School, Davis also has the burst and lateral agility to take screens and intermediate throws the distance from anywhere on the field.
With many of the household names at the position expected to garner most of the attention during the pre-draft process, it’s the wide receiver that no one is talking about that could ultimately become the steal of the 2020 NFL Draft.