Azusa Pacific wide receiver Jon Davis reels in a pass and races toward the end zone in a game last season. Davis, an Elliot Christian High graduate who never played high school football, is expected to be one of the top NAIA receivers this season. (Courtesy photo)

Davis enters final year at Azusa as NFL prospect

Jon Davis has attracted the attention of some special visitors during training camp for the Azusa Pacific Cougars football team this preseason.

The Arizona Cardinals, Buffalo Bills, Tennessee Titans, Pittsburgh Steelers and Houston Texans have all journeyed to the small Southern California campus to catch a glimpse of one of the hottest wide receivers in the country in college football.

Davis, an Elliot Christian High graduate, didn't play in high school. Heck, he didn't even join the Cougars until the beginning of his third year in school. Now his career has snowballed from a member of Azusa's special teams unit in 2005 to the school's single-season record holder in touchdowns (21) and points (128) in 2007 to an NFL prospect.

"It is really cool. It is crazy having them out there and having them come talk to me," Davis said of the NFL scouts. "It is like 'wow this is the reality.' Growing up it is a fantasy and now after talking to these guys they say have good year and do what you do and good things will happen for you next year. It is kinda surreal."

Jane Davis, Jon's mother, is also getting attention from the NFL at the family's home in Acampo.

"It's like a dream come true," she said. "Jon is meeting with NFL teams and we have agents calling our house to introduce themselves."

Last year as a Cougar

Even with all the excitement of the chance of being a pro football player, Davis' focus is on his final season with Azusa. Entering his senior year, the wide receiver and is tied for first in career touchdown receptions (25) and has cracked the top 10 in receiving yards (1,639) and receptions (106).

With another performance like his breakout season last year, which included being named to the Victory Sports Network All-American Team and finishing second in the country in college football — at any level — with 21 TDs, Davis could be on top of each list.

Of course, that is the last thing on 6-foot-3, 215-pound modest receiver's mind. Unlike the Terrell Owens and Chad Johnsons of the football world, Davis' first priority is his team.

"I'd like to break records and do all that, but I don't really think about that stuff," he said. "I could just catch five passes or two passes this year, I don't care as long as we go undefeated."

Now that his opponents know what he can do, Davis and Azusa head football coach Victor Santa Cruz know they'll be throwing their best defensive schemes against the Cougar with No. 85 on his back.

"He won't be much of a secret this year," Santa Cruz said. "I'm sure he will see his share of double teams. I am also sure that his competitive nature will find a way to get open. Should be exciting to watch."

Whether Davis leads the offense in yards or touchdowns, he knows he wants to be a leader for the squad. In his fourth year with the team and sixth year on campus, he's got a lot of experience to share.

"I know that some of the guys will look up to me to this year and I don't want to be a guy they are afraid of," he said. "I want to be a guy they can come and talk to and be their friend and just another guy. I always practice as hard as I can and work as hard as I can and I hope I can set an example through my work ethic."

The Davis brothers

There is one teammate in particular he will be looking to take under his wing — his little brother, Matt. Matt, who stands at 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, transferred to Azusa this year after spending his freshman year at Cal Poly. Another Elliot Christian graduate and wide receiver, Matt didn't play football at Cal Poly, but has earned a spot on the Cougars' squad. "That is going to be the first time we have ever been on the same team. I want to try to be a role model for him to because he will probably be looking up to me," Jon said. "I think it will be so much fun to be on the field at the same time as him and look down the line and see my little brother."

Azusa is currently holding two-a-days and players are competing for the starting spots. Santa Cruz said Matt will have to earn every minute of playing time he gets, but Matt says he is just happy to be back in the Christian-school atmosphere and to be in the presence of his brother.

"Having the chance to play with him, just being the great player he is and that he is so humble, not even as my brother, he is just amazing guy. And then the fact that he is my brother makes it even more amazing," Matt said. "I take every moment as my last because you never know when it might be. I just enjoy every moment."

While the brothers are having a good time on the grid iron together, Santa Cruz is also enjoying having a pair of Davis' on the roster. There are lots of similarities between the two and Santa Cruz even likes to joke about it.

"Matt is just as competitive and has a great deal of athleticism," he said of the youngest Davis. "Jon's just better looking — just kidding."

When Jon attended Elliot Christian, there was no football team for him to play for. When Matt was a freshman, and Jon had already graduated, football finally arrived at the school. Even after having a year off from the game, Matt enters the Cougars' lineup with more experience than Jon. It is a advantage Jon thinks could help him by leaps and bounds.

"I think he is going to be really good. He is so far ahead of where I was when I was a freshman as far as strength and knowledge go. He's still not going to break my records though," Jon said with a laugh. "He'll be good, but not break my records"