Davis Back For An Encore
After knocking everyone out with his play early last preseason, Terence Davis was himself knocked out of the season with a torn knee ligament.
Only Davis can say what hurt worse, the injury itself or the memory of just well he played in the Deacons’ first scrimmage last August.
“He had that big scrimmage,’’ Coach Jim Grobe recalled today. “He caught a handful of balls and made a couple of circus catches. Everybody was saying `He’s the next guy.’ Then he got hurt.’‘
Davis, a 6-1, 190-pound sophomore from Liburn, Ga., was sidelined through the spring while recovering from the surgery, but has looked good so far this August. We chatted a bit at the end of today’s first of two practices, and he said he’s feeling no ill effects from the injury.
He happens to be playing in a receiving corps that may be the deepest and most talented position group on the roster, one that features three players—Marshall Williams, Devon Brown and Chris Givens—who caught 166 passes among them last season. Redshirt freshman Michael Campanaro has impressed the staff this fall and Grobe hasn’t totally ruled out burning the redshirt of either of the tall, young freshmen, 6-5 Brandon Terry of Alpharetta, Ga., and 6-6 Matt James of Raleigh.
On the other hand, Givens will be suspended along with defensive end Kevin Smith for the first two games for a violation of an unspecified team policy, and Lovell Jackson—who was impressive last season as a kick returner—will probably miss at least two weeks with an injured hamstring.
If Davis plays as well as he showed everyone last season that he can, he’ll be on the field this season.
“He may be a little rusty,’’ Grobe said. “But I think he might have as good of hands as anybody. Marshall’s got really good hands, but I’m not sure Terence’s aren’t as good as Marshall’s. He’s got soft hands, catches the ball really well, has good speed, all that kind of stuff.’‘