PROSPECT SUMMARY – BRADY DAVIS

Brady Davis originally started his career at Memphis, where he spent his first three seasons. Redshirting in 2015, and then suffering a torn ACL in 2016, he would miss the entire season. Following his recovery, he only experienced action in one game in 2017, which led to him transferring to Illinois State. Upon his arrival, he had a career year during the 2018 season, but experienced another setback in 2019 as he suffered another ACL tear. During the season finale (Missouri State), Davis experienced another disclosed injury. Prior to that point, Davis proved to be an on-schedule thrower with B-level arm strength. Awareness inside and outside of the pocket, he has enough mobility to win in both facets. A clean progression reader, he has the ability to get through multiple steps, but must learn to utilize his outlets more consistently. Durability remains one of the bigger concerns for Davis moving forward.

Ideal Role: Developmental No. 3 QB that could spend significant time on the practice squad or in an outside league.

Scheme Fit: Erhardt-Perkins system.

FILM EVALUATION

Written by Jordan Reid

Games watched: Northern Arizona (2019), Northern Iowa (2019), North Dakota State (2019), South Dakota State (2019), Morehead State (2019)

Best Game Studied: 2019 Northern Arizona (2019)

Worst Game Studied: 2019 Morehead State (2019)

Accuracy: While accurate in spots, Davis’ accuracy can be hit or miss depending upon the game. There are some moments where he shows plenty of ball placement and accuracy to all three levels of the field, but there are lots of moments where he can struggle to place the ball in proper places. A completion percentage that has fluctuated mightily throughout his career, finding consistency in that department is an area that will be needed in order to have a chance at sticking somewhere.

Decision Making: Davis seemed to be more confident in 2018 compared to 2019. Battling consistency issues from the start during his final season, he regained form in one game (Northern Arizona), but outside of that, there were many performances that were a mixed bag

Poise: When pressure is bearing down on him, Davis is consistent with keeping his eyes down the field no matter what. Even when rushers are breathing down his neck, he keeps his vision on moving targets. Holding the ball too long has been a constant problem. Needing to speed up his mental clock and also finding his outlets/check-downs is a habit that will need to be developed into his game.

Progressions: One of Davis’ better traits is his eye manipulation. He’s clean with getting through progressions and reads, but he’s sly with misleading safeties away from desired targets. Using his peripheral vision frequently, he snaps his head back quickly to where he really wants to go with the football. The Illinois State offense contained a mixture of half- and full-field reads sprinkled in with play-action shot plays down the field. He showed to be comfortable in all multiple types of progression-based reads.

Release: A clean over-the-top release, he releases the ball at the height of his motion, which results in the ball coming out quickly. When facing pressure, it can tend to lower a bit, but that could be a result of wanting to get the ball out quicker or experimenting with various arm angles due to the pursuit of rushers coming toward him.

Pocket Manipulation: Possesses enough pocket manipulation to get out of harm’s way. He has been caught in some eroding pockets that have eventually caved in on him resulting in sacks, but he’s also been able to break contain and make plays outside of the pocket. Looking to be a thrower first when exiting the outside rims of the pocket, he’s capable of being a productive thrower on the run.

Arm Strength: Straddling the lines of B-level arm strength, Davis has enough to push the ball down the field when desired, but his challenges with reaching exterior destinations outside of the numbers are evident. Wideouts breaking away from his launch points have been forced to turn back inside or contort their bodies a bit in order to put themselves in position for receptions.

Mobility: Even though not utilized much as a runner, Davis has average mobility. Capable of climbing vertically or horizontally out of the pocket, he can get himself out of trouble if necessary. While not going to win an elongated foot race, he can escape the pocket and make plays outside of it off script sporadically.

Leadership: Prior to the 2020 season being canceled, Davis was set to become a two-time team captain. Being that he transferred into the program and was named a leader on the team captain only one season after is a credit to his leadership qualities. He earned the respect from others within the facility quickly.

Mechanics: Davis’ biggest inconsistencies come with his base. Some of his passes lack more velocity than they could have because of his habit of unhinging his hips too much. Turning and opening his lead leg/hip too much has resulted in some throws losing life just prior to reaching their destinations. Davis often steps horizontally instead of toward his targets. Tightening up that aspect by stepping with more violence with his lead leg (left) could lead to having improved velocity on passes to further areas of the field.