On Jan. 2, in Orlando, Florida, Under Armour hosted its annual All-American game, which features the best high school football players in the nation. Many individuals who have participated in this contest, such as A.J. Green and Julio Jones, have gone on to have successful college and professional careers.
Auburn has recruited 38 Under Armour All-Americans in the last eight years, and the team this past year featured several former Under Armour All-American standouts, including Carl Lawson, Montravius Adams and Ricardo Louis.
Add to the list Kyle Davis, the ninth-ranked wide receiver recruit in the 2016 class according to 247sports.com, whose commitment vaulted Auburn's recruiting class up to No. 10 in the nation at the time.
Davis chose Auburn on Dec. 5 after three visits each with the Georgia Bulldogs and the Tennessee Volunteers, following his unofficial visit to Auburn in November. Davis was previously committed to South Carolina before deciding to re-open his recruitment in May.
“Kyle was very comfortable the first time he visited Auburn his sophomore year as a defensive back. He has a great relationship with Dameyune Craig, Auburn’s wide receivers coach,” said Bryan Matthews of Rivals.com.
Davis hails from Lawrenceville, Georgia, where he played at Archer High School. As a senior, Davis recorded 773 yards and six touchdowns on 47 receptions.
Davis possesses great hands, but he can block as well. In coach Gus Malzahn’s fast-paced offense, Auburn often demonstrates tunnel screens and jet sweeps on the edge, making blocking a must for wide-outs.
“He’s 6-foot-2, 220," Matthews said. "His size, strength, and determination are what will make him a good blocker, and it could help him play early."
Davis not only has a plethora of talent, but also brings a tremendous amount of energy and is a true student of the game.
“He (also) works hard at his trade," said Archer's football coach, Andy Dyer. “He is hungry to learn”.
However, it's unrealistic to expect Davis to be the answer to all offensive questions the Tigers might have raised in the 2015 campaign, as the majority of Auburn’s aerial attack will be on the shoulders of Jeremy Johnson, Sean White or JUCO transfer John Franklin III.
In a year where Auburn averaged 175 yards per game and scored only 10 touchdowns through the air, Davis will fill a much-needed void in the receiving core.
“It’s possible he’ll start, but more likely that he will play pretty quickly," Matthews said. "That being said, Auburn likes what it has in its returning receivers: Tony Stevens, Jason Smith, and Marcus Davis.”
Davis recently enrolled in January after undergoing shoulder surgery and is currently taking classes and participating in light workouts. He is expected to be close to 100 percent by the beginning of the summer to compete for the starting job.
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