Draft Pick: Daven Holly
#215 Daven Holly
Cornerback/Wide Receiver - Cincinnati
Height: 5-10 1/8 - Weight: 186
Overview
Regarded as the team's best cover cornerback, Daven is also one of Cincinnati's fastest players, clocking 4.37 in the 40-yard dash. His prior experience as a receiver has proven helpful in his understanding of pass defense.
Daven was a first-team all-state selection by the Greensburg Tribune-Review as a senior at Clairton (Pa.) High School. He caught 21 passes for 651 yards and seven touchdowns on offense and made 43 tackles on defense as a senior. The all-district choice by the McKeesport Daily News, he helped the team to a 9-1 record and the first round of the playoffs that year. Holly was also named to the all-region team by the Gridiron Greats. In addition to lettering in football, Daven also suited up for the basketball team.
Holly redshirted as a wide receiver during the 2000 season at Cincinnati. He remained on offense as a reserve in 2001, playing in 11 games and catching four passes for 28 yards. Daven opened the 2002 season still on offense, but early in the year, the coaches decided to move him to cornerback. Playing in every game as a reserve, he collected 17 tackles (13 solos) with an interception and a pass breakup.
He moved into the starting lineup at cornerback in 2003, producing 23 tackles (16 solos), 10 pass deflections and a team-high six interceptions. He returned one for a touchdown. He also returned a blocked field goal for a score, earning second-team All-Conference USA honors.
Holly started all year in his final season. He registered a career-high 45 tackles (29 solos) with a pair of interceptions, a blocked extra point attempt and eight pass deflections. In 49 games with the Bearcats (38 on defense), Daven recorded 85 tackles (58 solos) with two stops for losses of 5 yards, nine interceptions for 58 yards and a touchdown, two blocked kicks and 19 pass deflections. He also gained 28 yards on four receptions.
Analysis
Positives Has a small, but developing frame, with room to add more bulk with no loss in speed Hard worker in the weight room and on the field Has quick feet and excellent straight-line speed, showing explosion coming out of his breaks Demonstrates the body control and balance to come out of his backpedal and mirror the receiver on deep routes When he sees the play develop, he shows urgency and acceleration to get to the ball Has more than enough explosion through his burst to catch up with most receivers when beaten Shows good body control and leaping ability, timing his jumps to get to the ball at its high point Has the natural quickness and agility to stay stride for stride with his assignment in man coverage Can flip his hips and turn out of his breaks with sudden moves Will extend and catch away from the body's frame.
Negatives Has marginal playing strength Will give a good effort to contain along the perimeter, but lacks the "sand in his pants" to hold ground and is not strong enough with his hands to ward off blocks Shows good ball anticipation skills, but is still learning how to make proper reads and keys Needs to shorten his back pedal, as he stays in it too long and struggles some coming out of his breaks when doing this Must stay lower in his pads to maintain position and leverage in coverage His lateral agility is marginal Does not have a good hand jolt to reroute receivers in press coverage Susceptible to double moves and is not always in position to make the play More of a drag-down tackler, failing to extend his arms properly to wrap and secure
Cornerback/Wide Receiver - Cincinnati
Height: 5-10 1/8 - Weight: 186
Overview
Regarded as the team's best cover cornerback, Daven is also one of Cincinnati's fastest players, clocking 4.37 in the 40-yard dash. His prior experience as a receiver has proven helpful in his understanding of pass defense.
Daven was a first-team all-state selection by the Greensburg Tribune-Review as a senior at Clairton (Pa.) High School. He caught 21 passes for 651 yards and seven touchdowns on offense and made 43 tackles on defense as a senior. The all-district choice by the McKeesport Daily News, he helped the team to a 9-1 record and the first round of the playoffs that year. Holly was also named to the all-region team by the Gridiron Greats. In addition to lettering in football, Daven also suited up for the basketball team.
Holly redshirted as a wide receiver during the 2000 season at Cincinnati. He remained on offense as a reserve in 2001, playing in 11 games and catching four passes for 28 yards. Daven opened the 2002 season still on offense, but early in the year, the coaches decided to move him to cornerback. Playing in every game as a reserve, he collected 17 tackles (13 solos) with an interception and a pass breakup.
He moved into the starting lineup at cornerback in 2003, producing 23 tackles (16 solos), 10 pass deflections and a team-high six interceptions. He returned one for a touchdown. He also returned a blocked field goal for a score, earning second-team All-Conference USA honors.
Holly started all year in his final season. He registered a career-high 45 tackles (29 solos) with a pair of interceptions, a blocked extra point attempt and eight pass deflections. In 49 games with the Bearcats (38 on defense), Daven recorded 85 tackles (58 solos) with two stops for losses of 5 yards, nine interceptions for 58 yards and a touchdown, two blocked kicks and 19 pass deflections. He also gained 28 yards on four receptions.
Analysis
Positives Has a small, but developing frame, with room to add more bulk with no loss in speed Hard worker in the weight room and on the field Has quick feet and excellent straight-line speed, showing explosion coming out of his breaks Demonstrates the body control and balance to come out of his backpedal and mirror the receiver on deep routes When he sees the play develop, he shows urgency and acceleration to get to the ball Has more than enough explosion through his burst to catch up with most receivers when beaten Shows good body control and leaping ability, timing his jumps to get to the ball at its high point Has the natural quickness and agility to stay stride for stride with his assignment in man coverage Can flip his hips and turn out of his breaks with sudden moves Will extend and catch away from the body's frame.
Negatives Has marginal playing strength Will give a good effort to contain along the perimeter, but lacks the "sand in his pants" to hold ground and is not strong enough with his hands to ward off blocks Shows good ball anticipation skills, but is still learning how to make proper reads and keys Needs to shorten his back pedal, as he stays in it too long and struggles some coming out of his breaks when doing this Must stay lower in his pads to maintain position and leverage in coverage His lateral agility is marginal Does not have a good hand jolt to reroute receivers in press coverage Susceptible to double moves and is not always in position to make the play More of a drag-down tackler, failing to extend his arms properly to wrap and secure
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