Dexter Davis (defensive back)

Dexter Wendell Jackson Davis (born March 20, 1970) is an American former professional football defensive back who played for the Phoenix Cardinals and Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Clemson University.

Dexter Davis
refer to caption
Davin in 2023
No. 48, 21, 29
Position:Defensive back
Personal information
Born: (1970-03-20) March 20, 1970 (age 54)
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Height:5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High school:Sumter
(Sumter, South Carolina)
College:Clemson
NFL draft:1991 / round: 4 / pick: 86
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Tackles:58
Interceptions:2
Fumble recoveries:4
Stats at Pro Football Reference

He founded the South Carolina Chapter of the National Football League Alumni and is currently acting as president.

Early life and education

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Davis played high school football at Sumter High School. He then attended and played college football at Clemson University from 1988–1990. In his collegiate career, he had 10 interceptions including a touchdown from one of them. He was also a punt returner, having 37 punt returns for 269 yards.[1]

Collegiate career

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Davis was an all ACC Defensive Back at Clemson University. Davis was a starter on Clemson’s defenses between 1988–90, when the Tigers had a 10-2 record and finished in the top 12 of the Associated Press poll each year. The 1988 team won the ACC championship, as Davis became the first Tiger first-year freshman to start at cornerback under Head Coach Danny Ford.

He was named a first-team freshman All-American by Sporting News and his final pass breakup of the season was a game-saver in the end zone that clinched Clemson’s 13-6 win over Oklahoma in the Citrus Bowl.

In 1989, Davis started all 12 games and was named second-team All-ACC by UPI. He accumulated 55 tackles, three interceptions and 16 pass breakups. As a junior in the 1990 season, Davis had a career-high 85 tackles and led the ACC in interceptions (6). That 1990 defense was Clemson’s first to lead the nation in total defense.

Professional career

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Phoenix Cardinals

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Davis was drafted by the Cardinals in the fourth round of the 1991 NFL draft with the 86th pick overall.[2] He spent his first three years with them. He played in 33 games and started in 3 of them. He had 33 tackles and 2 interceptions while on the team.[3]

Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams

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Davis spent the last 3 years of his career playing with the Rams. He played in 26 games and started in 3. He had 25 tackles while on the team.[4]

Legacy and awards

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In 2022, Clemson University honored Davis with the Brian Dawkins Lifetime Achievement Award.

Personal life

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Davis is married and has four children. His son, Micah J. Davis, plays football for Utah State.

References

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  1. ^ "Dexter Davis College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  2. ^ "1991 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  3. ^ Root, Jess (July 22, 2014). "2014 NFL countdown: 48 days left and a look at the Cardinals history of No. 48". RevengeOfTheBirds.com. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  4. ^ "Dexter Davis Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved September 25, 2023.