The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Next role for Davis remains uncertain
ATHENS — If the perquisite for playing Georgia’s “star” position in the secondary is a college degree, then Aaron Davis, much like the man he would replace, qualifies.
Davis graduated from UGA in December with a bachelor’s degree in finance. He’s now in grad classes, majoring in computer systems engineering.
“Aaron’s a smart guy,” fellow senior safety Dominick Sanders said.
He’s also a pretty good football player. Davis has started 30 games at Georgia — despite not receiving a scholarship offer out of high school — and is set to start again this season.
The only question is where. Right now, Davis has been working first-team star (also called nickel back), the lone vacant
starting spot on Georgia’s def e nse. The man who played star last season, Maurice Smith, earned his bachelor’s degree from Alabama in only three years.
Davis was a starting safety last season, but he’s also started at cornerback, and has played star and the money — the middle spot in a dime defense.
“Ever since I’ve been here at Georgia I’ve been moved around,” Davis said. “My first game ever I played safety. Then I played corner the rest of that season. “Just changing between different positions doesn’t bother me at all.”
On its face, it would seem Davis’ experience would be more valuable at nickel back. That’s a critical spot where you can be on an island, and have to make quick decisions all over the field.
Whoever plays safety, on the other hand, will have four-year starter Sanders next to them. So if that’s all taken in consideration, it could make sense to start Davis at star, and have a youngster (sophomore J.R. Reed or freshman Richard LeCounte) get his feet wet at safety.
“It feels like the first game award this spring.
But his ability to pass a finance test won’t impact who starts. It may have as much to do with how oth- ers do: Freshman Deangelo Gibbs is among those also working at star, and if the coaches feel Gibbs can han- dle that position, then Davis will move back to safety.
Bottom line: Davis will play somewhere. He’s the underappreciated linchpin in Georgia’s secondary who makes plays — 54 tackles, two interceptions and 1.5 sacks is a far way away. But it’s last year — and is a teacher. coming fast,” Davis said. “I’m “This guy right here is not sure exactly where I’ll a guy that does the right fit in. I’m pretty sure we’re thing,” Sanders said, look- going to try to put the best ing over in Davis’ direction. players out there. So wher- “Work ethic is very high. He’s ever that is, I’ll be sure to a guy that I look up to. He try to fill in that spot.” was here before me. So any
Davis originally came to questions I’ve got, I’ve got to UGA as a regular student, go to him because he’s a guy then walked on to the team. who can show me right and He was the winner of the show me all the little things football team’s senior GPA that I miss out on.”