A sizable talent
Davenport has solid attributes at tackle
Maybe playing for a Patriot League school won’t do much for your draft stock, especially when you’re an offensive lineman hoping to playing against NFL competition.
Bucknell’s Julie’n Davenport, however, must have done something right while dominating low-level competition. After all, Patriots offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia doesn’t just visit any tackle and work him out.
Davenport recently earned a private session with Scar because he has the type of physical traits the Pats look for in tackles. He’s 6-foot-7, 318 pounds and has 36.5-inch arms with an 87.5-inch wingspan. With a little more coaching and help with his technique, he might develop into a pretty good NFL tackle.
Darnell Stapleton, the line coach at Bucknell, has no doubts about Davenport’s potential at the next level.
“I don’t think (the NFL) will be too big of a stage for him just because he went to Bucknell instead of Rutgers or Penn State,” said Stapleton. “I think whoever gets him is getting a very good player.”
Davenport started to gain more believers after his efforts during the Senior Bowl, where he didn’t look out of place or outclassed.
“Everybody has their thoughts and beliefs, but I thought he did very well at the Senior Bowl for somebody who played so-called ‘small school ball.’ ” said Stapleton, a former offensive lineman who won a Super Bowl with the Pittsburgh Steelers. “I think he held his own.”
With Nate Solder headed into a contract year and only Cameron Fleming and LaAdrian Waddle providing depth behind Solder and Marcus Cannon, it sure seems like the time to draft a tackle.
According to Stapleton, Davenport is extremely smart in terms of picking up an offense, which is a quality Scarnecchia has at the top of his list. According to Stapleton, the tackle scored a 34 on the Wonderlic test. No wonder the Pats reportedly came away impressed after spending time with him in the film room.
“I know there’s a lot of guys out there that don’t understand what a 3-technique is . . . Julie’n has been taught those things over the last three years,” said Davenport. “He’ll be able to talk the language. He’s a very smart kid. He’ll be able to take coaching on the field. He can see things on the film or be told things descriptively and be able to apply it.”
Davenport had 44 starts at left tackle while at Bucknell. He was team captain as a junior and a senior. His leadership checks off another box for the Pats.
Said Stapleton: “He’s not overly talkative as a leader, but he’s the kind of guy who’ll just go to work, do what he has to do, and people follow.”
Another question is whether or not Davenport would stick as a left tackle. Many don’t, switching over to the right side. Given his size and potential, Stapleton thought left tackle would ultimately be his position.
“I can see somebody bringing him early to play right (tackle) and grooming him to eventually play the blindside position, or somebody taking a chance on a young guy early (on the left),” said Stapleton.
Said Davenport: “I played left my whole life but definitely have the ability to keep pass rushers at a hush on the edge and block the blind side of the quarterback.”