Senior Spotlight: Cal's Trevor Davis Contributing On Offense And Special Teams
In the world of college football, the impact a special teams unit can have is often only noticed when it is either really good or really bad. Cal's special teams is more in the middle of the pack, but it is always in good hands when it has senior Trevor Davis getting under the ball for a return.
The Martinez product was not exactly a highly sought-after recruit in the Class of 2011. The unrated talent ended up signing with Hawaii after a successful career in high school football and track. His prep teammate Donovan Frazer went on to play for Cal, but Davis took a different path.
He would first play on the islands for two years, where he would set a career high 111 receiving yards on six catches and a touchdown in his freshman season against BYU. Big numbers were not exactly what Davis would do on a regular basis, but he found a role in the Hawaii offense and would go on to record 45 catches for 601 yards while making 10 starts in his first two seasons.
Davis transferred to Cal from Hawaii in 2013, so he had to wait until 2014 to get involved in some capacity. Once he became eligible to play for the Golden Bears, Davis was put to work on special teams as well as on offense as an extra option.
Last year saw Davis put together a season with 399 receiving yards and five touchdowns and 424 kickoff return yards. Davis also returned two kickoffs for touchdowns last season.
Davis led the Pac-12 in average returns yards per return last season with a kickoff return average of 32.62 yards per return. That was approximately three yards more per return than USC's Adoree' Jackson. The two players were tied for the Pac-12 lead in kickoff returns, along with John Ross of Washington. Davis gave Cal a home run threat on special teams, and that is a nice asset to have on the roster.
Last year's big results on kickoff returns did not go flying under the radar around the Pac-12.
This season, Davis is averaging just 21.06 yards per kickoff return, which is 10th best among 11 players (Utah and Arizona have yet to return a kickoff; Oregon State has had two different players return a kickoff). Davis has also yet to break loose for a kickoff return touchdown, although that has happened just twice this season by Pac-12 players, so he is not alone in struggling to break free on a return.
Cal's high-flying offense continues to be led by junior Kenny Lawler and senior Bryce Treggs, but Davis has been a reliable contributor in this department as well. He is currently third on the team in receiving yards with a career-high 425 yards and two touchdowns.
His biggest performance of the season came in Week 2, with 138 yards and a touchdown on three catches against San Diego State. Since then, Davis has been a mild contributor on the offense, but his big play ability is always a threat when he gets his hands on the football.
This week could be an opportunity to have more of an impact. Cal takes on a struggling Oregon State program and Cal's offense should be ready to show off its offense in a big way after four tough losses.
Kevin McGuire is a Philadelphia area sports writer covering the Philadelphia Eagles and college football. McGuire is a member of the FWAA and National Football Foundation. Follow McGuire on Twitter @KevinOnCFB. His work can be found on Examiner.com.
