July 6, 2011
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By John Denton
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - With the opening of UCF football camp quickly approaching and the Sept. 3 opener at Bright House Networks Stadium against Charleston Southern coming up, UCFAthletics.com's John Denton will take a look at various players to watch this season.
PLAYER: Jonathan Davis
POSITION: Outside Linebacker
HEIGHT, WEIGHT, CLASS: 5-9, 199, Junior
HOMETOWN: Lawrenceville, Ga.
BEST ON-FIELD TRAITS: A converted tailback, Davis is moving back to his favored position at linebacker. He showed in the spring that he is plenty tough and agile enough to play defense and he's more than willing to lay a lick on a ball carrier.
2010 STATISTICS: He rushed for 251 yards and a touchdown on 65 carries last season while playing tailback. He also had five tackles on kickoff and punt coverage.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Davis started the first three games of last season at tailback, but he very well could be a starter at linebacker on opening day this season. He has the speed to be a top-notch sideline-to-sideline linebacker for the Knights. Questions will persist about his lack of height and discipline until he proves otherwise. He is more than willing to hit, so contact speed shouldn't be a problem for him. He has to prove that he can last a full season of taking on 300-pound linemen. If he's not up to the task there will be several talented underclassmen behind him wanting to steal his starting job.
WHERE HE'S BETTER: Davis was a two-time all-state performer as a linebacker in high school in Georgia, so the position switch from tailback to linebacker is a natural one for him. He has the mentality of a linebacker in that he's aggressive, highly vocal and often seeks out contact. But he'll have to prove that he can be disciplined in staying in his lanes and not gambling in pass coverage. And if Davis can stand up to the punishment physically as a 5-foot-9 linebacker, his speed could be a major plus for the Knights.
UCF 2011 football season ticket packages can be purchased or renewed online at UCFAthletics.com or by calling the UCF Athletics Ticket Office at (407) 823-1000. Home games include Charleston Southern [Champions UKNIGHT (Sept. 3)], Boston College [Hall of Fame Weekend (Sept. 10)], Marshall (Oct. 8), Memphis [Alumni UKNIGHT - Homecoming 2011 (Oct. 29)], Tulsa (Nov. 5) and UTEP [Senior Day (Nov. 26)]. Should UCF host the C-USA Championship Game for the fourth time in seven years, it would be played on Saturday, Dec. 3 and season ticket holders will receive the first shot at the best seats.