Determined and focused, Utah free safety Vonte Davis is approaching the NFL Draft with the same intensity he utilized when he transferred from Blinn College. Davis remains intent on perfecting his craft.
Vonte Davis and the NFL Draft
The way the second-team All-Pac-12 selection attacked football — and academics — is how Davis has set his ambitions as he pursues a professional football career.
At 6-foot-1, 207 pounds, Davis combines speed, mobility, and instincts. The native of Rosenberg, Texas, nicknamed “Snake,” had a key interception against USC and a forced fumble against Arizona State.
“I wanted to be a leader on the field and off,” Davis said. “I’m a relentless, smart, nasty ballhawk safety. That’s what Utah built in me. As a teammate, I’m going to be there for them. If they need anything, I’m there and I put them first. That’s who I’m going to war with.”
49ers, Chiefs evaluating Davis
Davis held a Zoom meeting with the San Francisco 49ers and has been fielding interest from the Kansas City Chiefs. Now that he’s so close to making it to the NFL, Davis can’t wait.
“I’m just really waiting on the draft,” he said. “This is something I’ve been waiting on and wanting as soon as I started playing football. I love this sport. When I first touched the field, I knew I needed to go as hard as I can. It’s been my dream ever since.”
Davis played in 47 career games and started 19 of them. He had 62 tackles last season. In a five-game season in 2020, he started every game at free safety and had 16 tackles (1 for loss), 1 sack, and tied for the team lead with 2 interceptions.
At the Utah Pro Day, he had a 9-foot-10 broad jump, a 32.5-inch vertical leap, a 4.43 short shuttle, and a 7.28 three-cone drill. He bench-pressed 225 pounds 13 times.
At Blinn, he was a second-team junior college All-American who had 2 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles, and 3 fumble recoveries in his final season. Davis was an all-district selection in high school in football and basketball. He finished third in the state in the triple jump.
Pac-12 competition sets up Davis for NFL
Davis’ preparations for the NFL have been fortified by competing in the Pac-12 conference.
“I feel like it really prepared me the way I should have been,” Davis said. “When I came into Utah, I was kind of a little kid, a little arrogant. I was trying to do it my way. Playing at Utah really humbled me. It made me appreciate everything and I learned how to become a smarter athlete by doing all the little things.”
Davis majored in sociology and minored in criminology. Growing up in Rosenberg, Davis was part of a close-knit community.
“It’s filled with loving people, even some of those who never get right,” Davis said. “Overall, it’s not the worst neighborhood or the greatest. It’s just where I grew up and my friends and family.”