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8/3/05-Football
Ex-Eaglet striving to be best TE
By DAVID BIRKETT Of The Oakland Press
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CHICAGO--On Sept. 21, 2002, in a low-profile nonconference game against Wake Forest, Purdue's Charles Davis dropped a pass.
As trivial as it sounds how many other thousands of football players have dropped how many other thousands of passes in the past three years? it must be pointed out because, more than anything, that's what drives Davis, a practicing perfectionist, toward becoming the nation's best tight end.
"I think about that all the time," the former Orchard Lake St. Mary's standout said at Big Ten football media day Tuesday. "It was in the fourth, we were driving, it was a little crosser over the middle. I think we caught them in the blitz, because I was wide-open and I just remember the ball dropping, and I turned and looked up and there was nobody in front of me. We went over the film, and if I catch the ball, we probably score, we probably win, and I didn't come through in that moment.
"I take that with me every time I go out on the field, so I want it now. I want to be in a pressure situation. I want a chance to make a catch with the game on the line."
With 52 career receptions, Davis has made plenty of catches in his three seasons at Purdue.
He hauled in what should have been the game-winning touchdown in last year's Sun Bowl, only to watch in horror as Arizona State answered 21 seconds later.
And with career leading receiver Taylor Stubblefield gone, there's no telling what sort of numbers Davis could put up this year.
"That opens up about 80 more balls to go around," Davis said. Spurned by Michigan and Michigan State after a freak finger injury cut short his senior season of high school, Davis signed with the Boilermakers expecting to follow Tim Stratton as a big number-producing, playmaking tight end.
He redshirted in 2001 and started 11 games the following season, but slumped to only six catches as a sophomore.
While some labeled him a disappointment, Davis worked on other aspects of his game. He became a first-rate blocker, a more physical pass protector and, eventually, his offense returned to form. As a junior, he caught 34 balls for 416 yards and a career-high three touchdowns.
After the season, he even got to live a boyhood dream when he joined the Boilermakers basketball team as a walk-on. He averaged 2.9 points and 3.1 rebounds a game.
"I love playing basketball," said Davis, who likely will forgo a second season on the hardwood to concentrate on his NFL dreams this winter. "I would have played in college, but the demand for the 6-6 center is just not there anymore like it used to be. So I guess football was more fit for my body type. But just to get that chance to go out there and play even though the season really didn't go how we wanted to, it was fun."
It also helped Davis back to this again in his quest to become a dominant tight end.
"The footwork, the lateral movement, it does so much for your football game," said Davis, ranked the nation's No. 9 tight end by The Sporting News. "It's a great translation, so that was good for me."
Now, Davis said, the goal is to make this a good final go-round as a Boiler.
"If I get more balls, great. If not, it doesn't really matter," Davis said. "I just have to catch what's coming my way. As long as somebody who's getting these touches is making something positive for our team, I think that's all that matters."
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