LSU players are beginning to call wide receiver Craig Davis theinvisible man.
The mellow, laid-back sophomore from New Orleans known as”Buster” has emerged from the shadows as a big-threatwideout, complementing fellow sophomore Dwayne Bowe and carving hisown niche on the line of scrimmage.
After seeing limited action last year, Davis has 14 catches for263 yards this year, including five catches for 93 yards in lastweek’s shutout of Mississippi State. He is averaging 18.8yards per catch.
Even with his solid numbers, Davis still does not garner theattention that fellow teammates junior Skyler Green and Bowe (16catches, four touchdowns) are getting.
Davis, at 6-foot-2, 190 pounds, was listed behind Green on thedepth chart at the beginning of the season and was considered thethird option behind Bowe. But with Green missing the last threegames because of an ankle injury, Davis may no longer fly under theradar.
“We’re really on the same page right now asquarterbacks and receivers,” Davis said. “This is theperfect time for me — in a big game like this — to showup and make plays.”
LSU coach Nick Saban said the Tigers have not been able to fullyexploit Davis’ abilities on offense because he has not gottenthe ball in his hands.
“He’s had a lot of opportunities to make big playsthan anybody else on the team, we just haven’t gotten him theball,” Saban said.
Davis came to LSU in 2003 along with highly-touted receiversBowe and Amp Hill. Even though he was on a depth chart with fiveother talented receivers, Davis quietly caught seven passes for 63yards that year.
He said learning from former LSU wide receivers Michael Claytonand Devery Henderson helped him grasp the basics of the position,to stay patient and to be ready when his time came.
“I knew it wasn’t going to be a struggle because Ihad players like Mike [Clayton] and Devery [Henderson],”Davis said. “They understood my role on the team and told mesimple things like ‘you never give up’ because youdon’t know when someone could get hurt.”
Davis may get the opportunity to catch more passes on the fieldSaturday against Georgia, with Green’s status stilluncertain. Davis said Green’s return would help the team inmany ways, but he will be ready if Green is not back in time.
“You never look at it like you’re never going toplay, it could be one play,” Davis said. “If Skylerdoesn’t come back from his injury, I’ll probably haveto contribute more.”
LSU cornerback Travis Daniels, who goes up against Davis inpractice, said Davis has a unique style that separates him on thefield.
“To me, his style is different from everyone else,”Daniels said. “He’s got a lot of athleticism and isreal quick off the line. He’s a lot quicker than most peoplethink and that’s why he’s been able to get open andmake a lot of big plays because they’re looking at otherreceivers.”
Daniels said off the field, Davis is a quiet, relaxed guy whodoes not stand out, which is another reason defenders do not key onhim — they do not always realize he is there.
“It always helps you when everyone is focusing in on[other receivers] because they’re not even going to see theinvisible man,” Daniels said. They’re just going to seethe ball in the end zone and wonder how he got there.”