Steelers Prospect Watch: Sean Davis
By Rich Donahue
Will the Pittsburgh Steelers upgrade their secondary in the NFL Draft?
The NFL Draft is upon us with teams still scouting potential targets. For the Steelers, they will be focusing on upgrading the defensive side of the ball this draft. The biggest area of need on the defense is the secondary
The Steelers are lacking in overall depth at both corner and safety. Willie Gay and Ross Cockrell are the most experienced cornerbacks; Mike Mitchell, Robert Golden and Shamarko Thomas are the experienced safeties. This draft has high level prospects at corner and safety, but there are few hybrid type players that can play both positions. One of the few hybrid corner/safety in this class has already met with the Steelers, Maryland’s Sean Davis.
Like many defensive backs in this draft, Davis is a physical, tough defender, not being afraid to mix it up in the run game. Over his 4 seasons with the Terrapins, he totaled 319 tackles, 10 for loss, 2.5 sacks and 5 interceptions. Davis led the Big Ten in solo tackles his junior season with 80, totaling 115.
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In 2015, Davis started playing the outside corner position for Maryland, a move that was disastrous early in the season. He was victimized in man coverage by pass happy Bowling Green, but rebounded the next week versus South Florida. Davis has allowed an alarming 10 touchdowns over the past 2 seasons.
Playing as a hybrid nickel corner/safety is where teams in the NFL will want Davis to line up. He loves to play downhill with a purpose with a nose for knocking out the football. Davis was second in the nation with 5 forced fumbles in 2015.
Next: Steelers Prospect Watch: A'Shawn Robinson
If the Steelers pull the trigger on a hybrid defensive back like Davis, he will fit right in with the aggressive attack of the defense.