J.C. Davis Draft Grade | Round 6, Pick 11 | FanVerdicts

A+

Top 3%Pick Grade

Pick Context

Market Value

Steal

Position

OT · Premium Position

Decision Grade reflects market consensus at the moment of the pick. Teams often have private information the consensus does not.

Scouting Report

Big Board Rank: #159 · Day 3 Sleeper

J.C. Davis emerged as a late-bloomer at Illinois, transitioning from tight end to offensive tackle as a redshirt sophomore and steadily improving each season. His combination of natural athleticism and improving technique has caught evaluators' attention, though inconsistencies in pass protection and developmental nature keep him as a mid-round prospect. Davis possesses intriguing upside with his movement skills and run blocking prowess, but needs significant refinement in his pass sets and hand usage. His trajectory suggests a player who could develop into a quality starter with proper coaching and time to mature physically and technically.

Strengths

+Exceptional mobility for his size allows him to execute reach blocks and climb to second level with ease in zone schemes.

+Natural knee bend and base maintenance shows proper fundamentals when setting up in pass protection stance.

+Strong initial punch with good hand placement creates separation and control at point of attack in run blocking.

+Demonstrates excellent recovery ability when initially beaten, using his length and athleticism to re-establish position.

+Shows impressive awareness in slide protection, identifying late rushers and picking up stunts effectively.

+Consistent effort level and motor, playing through the whistle and finishing blocks downfield.

+Solid anchor strength against bull rushers when he gets proper set and hand placement established.

+Good spatial awareness in tight quarters, rarely false starts or commits procedure penalties.

+Shows developing pass set timing with improving kick slide technique and mirror ability.

+Effective drive blocker who can create movement in gap schemes with proper leverage and footwork.

+Demonstrates coachability with steady improvement each season in technique and football IQ.

+Versatile enough to play both tackle spots and has emergency guard capability for depth purposes.

Weaknesses

-Inconsistent hand usage leads to holding penalties and ineffective blocks when he lunges or grabs.

-Pass set timing needs refinement as he occasionally opens his stance too early against speed rushers.

-Struggles with elite power rushers who can overwhelm him at point of attack despite decent anchor strength.

-Footwork can become sloppy in extended pass protection, losing base and allowing rushers inside.

-Limited experience against top-tier competition raises questions about transition to NFL speed and power.

-Needs to add functional strength to handle more physical defensive ends at professional level.

-Occasionally over-aggressive in run blocking, leading to missed assignments when he loses track of his man.

-Recovery speed needs improvement when initially beaten by speed moves around the edge.

NFL Comparison: Cornelius Lucas

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