Vernon Davis - The NFL's Tight End Sensation

The San Francisco 49ers selected Vernon Davis as their first round sixth pick draftee in the 2006 draft.  Many believe that Davis's early selection had a lot to do with his showing at the NFL combine, a camp where prospective NFL draftees display their athletic prowess.  Davis managed to break 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash--much quicker than traditional tight end time.  He leaped 42 inches in the air and generally proved speedy in every event, including the notoriously difficult broad jump.

Davis was born in Washington, D.C. and attended college in Maryland.  His statistics while playing with the Maryland Terrapins were impressive, if not record-breaking in certain instances.  As a sophomore, he finished with over 440 receiving yards and averaged over 40 yards per game--finishing in the top 10 in the ACC division.  He made amazing plays in games against Florida State, Duke, and FSU, and he received the John Mackey Award for TE of the week after a particularly impressive streak of defensive plays.

He has been able to play numerous positions well--these include wide receiver, fullback, H-back, and of course, tight end.  Indeed, Vernon Davis's physical tools may be among the most impressive of any draftee in the 2006 lineup.  However, coaches and commentators caution that Davis needs to discipline his physical potential to achieve superior results with the San Francisco 49ers.

While at Maryland, Davis earned a myriad of awards for his defensive performances, and he has attracted a large and growing fan base of outside the Maryland/D.C. area, thanks to his audacious personality and strong physical showmanship.