5. 168 - Zach Davidson, TE, Central Missouri

[SemperFeist]

Edited May 1, 2021 by SemperFeist

[SemperFeist]

He’s a punter 😉 

[viking]

He's a huge TE. 15 TDs in 2019.

 

TE3

[vike daddy]

2 minutes ago, viking said:

He's a huge TE. 

6' 7",  245 lbs

[vike daddy]

Davidson was a first-team Associated Press Division II All-American and first-team All-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association selection. He ranked seventh in D2 by averaging 22.4 yards per reception and tied for seventh with 15 touchdowns among his 40 receptions (894 yards) in 13 games (12 starts). Central Missouri did not play in the fall of 2 020 due to COVID-19.

Gangly and ungainly, Davidson is an enigma as a one-year wonder with mega production seemingly coming from nowhere. He's a towering figure with slender body composition, offering a desired combination of speed and athleticism to work all three levels of the field with a natural advantage in the catch-radius department. While he has the tools to become a better route runner, he is in the developmental stage currently. The biggest concern is his lack of lower-body mass and lack of functional strength to offer up at least decent wall-off potential as an H-tight end or big slot. His potential as a pass catcher and his roster value as a backup punter could play into his chance of making the back-end of a roster or a practice squad.

https://www.nfl.com/prospects/zach-davidson/32004441-5610-4903-d81a-69e2bea869a8

Edited May 1, 2021 by vike daddy

[viking]

I'm happy with a TE room of Smith, Conklin and Davidson 

[Ozzy]

Those are some impressive athletic numbers for a big dude.  Why not take a chance on him, still would have liked them to put a little more value in a proven blocker at TE like Tremble or Hunter Long.  But this is an athletic guy and clearly they are comfortable with Conklin as the TE opposite Irv Smith so good to take a project with a high upside athletically.  Got to love the size though, that is the one knock on Irv Smith being only 6-2 at times is a massive disadvantage.  

[dc_vikingfan]

He's athletic TE who could replace Tyler if leave next year. Fills a need pick hope he do well  

[whitehops]

love that we got an athletic and BIG tight end, hopefully he can contribute.

 

but i literally have no idea how someone who is 6'7 only has 32" arms. that has to be a mistake.

 

 

ALSO, him being a punter means he has special teams experience, even if he wouldn't be our punter.

Edited May 1, 2021 by whitehops

[SteelKing728]

There's your TE3!

[vike daddy]

For what it’s worth, Davidson said he’s a “mediocre” long snapper. And he said that, despite his punting abilities, the Vikings are looking at him now strictly as a tight end.

“My main focus is tight end,’’ he said. “Punting is in my back pocket. I was drafted as a tight end and have full attention on being in the tight end room.’’

https://www.twincities.com/2021/05/01/vikings-to-sign-undrafted-memphis-kicker-riley-patterson/

[whitehops]

I wrote this in the "Rate our draft" thread:

Quote

I like a lot of the picks but the one I really want to pan out is TE Zach Davidson. I understand he is very far from a sure thing but his athletic profile is so intriguing and could turn into a Kittle-lite type player. He can really threaten teams up the seam, he has really good YAC ability (based on his DII tape, admittedly) and at 6'7 with almost a 40" vert could be a contested catch monster. That's just the potential obviously, but it's a player who would be amazing to have. His punting ability just adds to the intrigue too. I'm already envisioning us on our own ten yard line and it's 3rd and 15. Motion Davidson into the backfield, direct snap to him and BOOM, completely reverse the field with no one back to return.

Kittle's testing numbers were pretty much elite across the board whereas Davidson's are "only" great, but Davidson is three inches taller. 

There's some sloppiness with his footwork but there are good things too. His movement/coordination is pretty good for someone who is 6'7. It's a highlight reel but he seems to have pretty natural ability: he catches away from his body, high points the ball when he can, tracks and adjusts to the ball well in the air, etc. My favourite catch was at 1:13 when he stumbled coming out of his break but lunged and caught it strongly while regaining his balance and ensured he got both feet inbounds.

I think there's a lot of natural ability to like and I'm personally rooting for him to be an impact player in the league. EDIT: The comparison to Kittle was purely as a receiver, blocking was a strength of Kittle's coming out college whereas it is a weakness for Davidson.

Edited May 2, 2021 by whitehops

[Guest]

On 5/1/2021 at 3:20 PM, whitehops said:

but i literally have no idea how someone who is 6'7 only has 32" arms. that has to be a mistake.

He has T-Rex DNA on his Mother's side.

[swede700]

On 5/1/2021 at 2:20 PM, whitehops said:

but i literally have no idea how someone who is 6'7 only has 32" arms. that has to be a mistake.

It happens...I'm 6'3" and have small hands and feet for my size...I should be able to palm a basketball at my size, but nope...can't do it.  My feet are the size of an average height person, yet my father in law, who's the same height as me wears 17s and my son who is slightly shorter than me wears 13s.