Drake Davis to LSU: Tigers Land 4-Star WR Prospect
LSU received another high-profile commitment for its 2016 recruiting class Saturday in the form of coveted wide receiver Drake Davis.
ESPN's Derek Tyson confirmed the wideout's decision to join the Tigers.
Davis is a 4-star prospect who ranks just inside the top 100 for the 2016 class, according to 247Sports' composite rankings. He also checks in as the No. 13 receiver among the incoming group.
The IMG Academy (Bradenton, Florida) standout almost took a different route toward sports stardom. He skipped his junior year of football in high school in order to play soccer instead. He grew up playing both and since the schedules overlap in school, he had to make the tough decision.
He's since shifted his focus back to the football field, where his combination of size (6'4'', 215 pounds) and athleticism makes him a high-upside prospect. He told Bleacher Report's Sanjay Kirpalani his time playing soccer helped him become a better football player, too.
"It got me a lot better with my footwork, so that was a great thing," Davis said. "It helped with my footwork and helping me get in and out of my breaks. It gives you stamina, also."
Playing multiple sports can definitely help an athlete develop a more well-rounded skill set for their eventual No. 1 sport. Davis clearly believes it paid dividends for him.
Looking ahead, he could benefit from adding more power to his frame to help combat the wear and tear associated with a football season. He also needs to become a little more polished in terms of route running and blocking to find consistent success at the collegiate level.
He joins a Tigers offense that could use some playmakers at wideout, to give their lackluster quarterbacks talented targets. Even so, don't expect him to make an immediate impact.
All told, Davis is an intriguing prospect with a good chance to make a major impact, even if it takes a couple years for his talent to fully shine through.
