Iowa defensive line prospect Carl Davis, who earned second-team All-Big Ten honors in 2014, hopes to make an immediate impact on an NFL roster.
Carl Davis certainly isn't the most talked about defensive line prospect in the NFL Draft this year, but the Iowa product is hoping to become a household name sooner rather than later.
Davis, an imposing figure at 6-foot-4 and 321 pounds, played in 43 games with the Hawkeyes, compiling 94 total tackles (31 solo), 14.5 tackles for a loss and 3.5 sacks.
In 2014, Davis also blocked a field goal en route to second-team All-Big Ten honors.
NFL Draft Analyst Lance Zierlein said he is a powerful player who "grows roots against double teams and holds his ground."
"Competition brings out the best in me," Davis said following his appearance in this year's Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. "I want to win."
Zierlein noted that Davis has the ability to not only win with his hands – mostly by evading blocks – but also while remaining disengaged with linemen.
Davis has a 34 5/8 -inch arm length, which is about one-fifth of a 2015 Honda Civic sedan (179.4 inches).
When Davis does not give up position on the line, he tends to play "heavy-legged." Zierlein said because of this, he has declined as a pass rusher the past two seasons, despite compiling his sacks in the final two years of his collegiate career.
Zierlein said Davis might not be an immediate starter at the professional level, but is certainly a player who could make an impact down the line.
Davis says he feels versatile enough to play multiple positions on the defensive line. When he accepted an invitation to participate in the Senior Bowl, he wanted to showcase his general talent.
"I can play anywhere," Davis said. "I'm athletic enough. You can put me anywhere on the defensive front. I'm long enough to play outside. I have enough speed. I also have enough size where I can play in the middle."
Davis has been ranked in the top 10 of defensive linemen who have entered the 2015 NFL Draft (60 draftees). On an NFL.com scale up to 10 – a 10 being a "once-in-lifetime player" – Davis is graded at a 5.9.
His grading denotes that he has a chance to become an NFL starter once he is drafted.
Davis has the body measurements of a first-rounder, and if he can use his physical attributes to produce, Zierlein said he can have a long NFL career.
"I'll line up and give everything I got," Davis said. "So that's really the point I want to get across."
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