2013 NFL Combine: Arkansas Razorback RB Knile Davis among Top Performers

Sep 29, 2012; College Station, TX, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks running back Knile Davis (7) runs for a touchdown against the Texas A

Sep 29, 2012; College Station, TX, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks running back Knile Davis (7) runs for a touchdown against the Texas A

Throughout the early stages of the NFL combine Davis has been among the top overall performers of those invitees participating in physical drills.

Davis set out to calm fears and do-away with concerns of NFL coaches and general managers about his physical abilities once arriving in Indianapolis. After a breakout season in 2010 that saw him lead all SEC running backs in rushing yards with 1,322 yards from the line of scrimmage, Davis missed the entire 2011 season due to a broken ankle.

With preseason media hype, a preseason Heisman Trophy candidate listing, and being the starting running back on a Razorback team ranked No. 10 by the AP all things looked up for Davis. But as many athletes find when returning from a significant injury the strength may be there, the speed may be there, but the game speed and game strength may not be up to par just yet.

Davis finished 2012 as the 28th overall producer in net rushing yards among all SEC players. The disappointment is Davis was not somewhere in the top 28 among all NCAA running backs but just within his own conference.

The Missouri City, TX, native had one key game he could hang his hat on during last year’s college football season and that was against Texas A&M. Davis finished with 65 yards rushing and 64 yards receiving with one touchdown against the eventual top 10 Aggies.

The importance of Davis showing his God-given abilities in front of NFL scouts, coaches, and general managers could mean the difference between being a 2013 draft pick or signing a free agent deal after the draft.

As most Arkansas fans expected Davis has lived up to the hype and delivered. Davis finished No. 6 overall in bench press with 31 reps of 225 pounds falling seven reps shy of defensive linemen Margus Hunt (SMU) and Brandon Williams (Missouri Southern St.) combine-high 38 reps.

Weighing in at 227 pounds on his five-foot ten-inch frame he scored a 33.5 inch vertical jump and a 121 broad jump placing him among the top running back performers.

Perhaps more importantly Davis finished among the top six in forty-yard dash times running a 4.37. Texas wide receiver Marquise Goodwin turned in a Deion Sanders inspired 4.27 to lead all forty-yard dash times.

Davis will have to overcome injury issues and fumble issues at the next level. Given a chance this former Razorback should make one NFL team look great somewhere in the mid to late rounds of the 2013 NFL draft.