[CBFF] Kellen Davis: TE (Bears 2nd 5th RD Pick)

[Steve Behrens]

(((Is it too off the wall to think the Bears might be thinking about moving
this guy to an interior line position?  Just asking.  More likely, the last
line under 'Analysis' is more on target here.)))


Kellen Davis
Height: 6-6 | Weight: 259 | Position:TE | College: Michigan State

  Overview

Davis is the most physically imposing tight end in the 2008 draft. Blessed
with rare size, strength and overall athleticism, he has the combination of
physical talent that every team is looking for.

Though he enjoyed a breakout senior campaign, he remains an enigma. Davis
entered his senior season with 10 starts in 30 game appearances. Over that
span, he had caught 28 passes for 276 yards and three touchdowns. Davis has
become a more prominent member of Michigan State's offense, matching his
previous career numbers with 28 grabs (for 475 yards and five touchdowns)
through the first 12 games of the 2007 season.

Davis lacks great quickness off the snap and hasn't shown the willingness to
work hard to improve his route-running and blocking. He relies on his own
natural ability on the football field and is so big and strong the Spartans
have used him as a defensive end at times this season. In limited duty as a
pass rusher Davis has registered six tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss
and 2.0 sacks.

Davis hasn't demonstrated the work ethic to improve and his 2006 arrest for
an off-field fight will scare off some clubs. Still, a team will fall in
love with his potential and draft him higher than his production and past
work ethic warrants.
  Analysis

*Positives:* Looks the part … Chiseled upper and lower with room for
additional mass without loss of speed … Good overall athlete … Marginal
quickness off the snap … Flashes deep speed to challenge down the seam …
Flashes soft hands … Can make the tough catch and can track the ball over
his shoulder … Good leaping ability … Uses his frame to shield the defender
from the ball … Good inline blocker … Good physicality at the line of
scrimmage … Combination of size and strength to earn playing time as a
defensive end here, as well.

*Negatives:* Isn't the sum of his parts … Has been rumored to have a 4.6
40-yard time and a 36-inch vertical jump, but this speed and explosiveness
isn't consistently evident on the field … Lacks explosiveness off the snap
and struggles to generate true separation due to only marginal route-running
… Allows passes to get into his pads and struggles at times with drops …
Lacks explosiveness off the snap when used as a defensive end … Suspended
for three games in 2006 for an off-campus fight.
  High School

Prep Football Report and *SuperPrep* All-American … Ranked among the
nation's top 10 tight ends by ESPN.com's Tom Lemming (No. 4),
*Rivals.com*(No. 7) and
*SuperPrep* (No. 8) … Named to *Prep Football Report's*, *SuperPrep's* and *
PrepStar's* All-Midwest Teams … Rated among the Midwest's top prospects by
the *Detroit Free Press* (No. 15), *Prep Football Report* (No. 16), *
SuperPrep* (No. 29) and *Rivals.com* (No. 43) … Listed among the state's top
seniors by *The Detroit News* (No. 5), *Lansing State Journal* (No. 9), *
Rivals.com* (No. 10) and *Detroit Free Press* (No. 26) … Three-year starter
at tight end for Coach Bill Kohn at Adrian (Mich.) High School … *Associated
Press* all-state selection in 2003 … Caught 23 passes for 438 yards (19.0
avg.) and 10 touchdowns as a senior while leading the Maples to a 10-1
record … Consistently graded out over 80 percent in his blocking assignments
… had 25 receptions for 510 yards (20.4 avg.) and seven TDs as a junior.
  Personal

Runs 4.7 in the 40 … Son of Jeffrey and Radine Davis . . . born Oct. 11,
1985 … Brother Josh Freeman earned a letter in 1995 as a defensive lineman
for the Spartans … Communications major.