Transfer DB Davis presses to play at ASU
Ethan Long had just grabbed a short pass from freshman quarterback Jayden Daniels and was scampering toward the end zone. Just when Long was crossing the goal line, sophomore defensive back Timarcus Davis made a lunging attempt at a tackle.
Long hit the grass, rolled over and leaped to his feet quickly. As Davis got up Arizona State head coach Herm Edwards was in his face - It wasn’t supposed to be a tackling drill and the coach had a few harsh but encouraging words for his player.
Edwards made his point and Davis proceeded with practice without further incident.
One could forgive Davis for being overly aggressive at practice. It’s been a long wait and he is eager to earn a spot in a deep ASU secondary. The 6-foot, 177-pound defensive back sat out last season after transferring from Baylor.
He is in quite a battle for playing time with ASU boasting three-year starters at the corners in Kobe Williams and Chase Lucas.
Davis, who has worked consistently with the second team and on special teams, has been impressive with two interceptions and a blocked a field goal in the last two weeks.
Coaches are not surprised with his showing thus far.
“He is what we expected,” ASU secondary coach Tony White said. “He’s quick twitch. He’s really aggressive. He’s the kind of guy you really have to pull him back. He’s even tackling when we’re not supposed to be tackling. He’s good, he just needs to play after being out a year.”
Davis, a native of College Station, is one of 15 Texas natives on the ASU roster. He had 16 division I offers despite missing his senior season with a knee injury. His All-State showing as a junior went along way toward earning him those.
He originally committed to University of Houston but the coaching staff left there so he ended up at Baylor, 90 miles from home.
Davis got some playing time as a true freshman, seeing action in 11 games with 10 tackles, a forced fumble and fumble recovery.
There were things he liked about the school but he wasn’t completely happy so he started looking to transfer as soon as the season was over.
“I really wanted to get out of the state and spread my wings,” he said. “I really wasn’t as happy as I thought I should be. I needed a new environment so thought I was best to go away.”
ASU was the first place he considered since White and defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales had previously recruited him and extended him an offer when they were on the staff at San Diego State.
“I got in touch with them right away, as soon as I was able to talk to coaches,” he said. “They got back to me almost instantly. They’re great coaches and great people. I always had a great relationship with them, even outside of football. Then when they got coach Herm (Edwards), I knew that’s where I wanted to be.”
Having to sit a year is never ideal but Davis says he benefited from it, especially because playing in a 3-3-5 defensive scheme was something new to him. He adapted well as evidenced by his selection as Scout Team Defensive Player of the Year which was announced at the team’s year-end banquet.
“I was just trying to soak everything in,” he said “It’s a different scheme. We run more DB’s so that adds another element to it. I had to get used to it.”
Not only does Davis have two returning starters ahead of him, but the most recent recruiting class has others contending for playing time as well.
“I just want to contribute somewhere. If they want me to play on special teams, I’ll play there. This is a good, competitive, fun environment and we’re all pushing each other. That’s what it’s all about.”