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Arizona Cardinals 2019 NFL Draft: 10 small school heroes you need to know

By Avery Duncan

BOSTON, MA - NOVEMBER 11: Wide receiver Andy Isabella #23 of the Massachusetts Minutemen catches a touchdown pass during the second half of the game against the Maine Black Bears at Fenway Park on November 11, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - NOVEMBER 11: Wide receiver Andy Isabella #23 of the Massachusetts Minutemen catches a touchdown pass during the second half of the game against the Maine Black Bears at Fenway Park on November 11, 2017 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images) /
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KNOXVILLE, TN – NOVEMBER 3: Nate Davis #64 of the Charlotte 49ers pass blocks Defensive lineman Darrell Taylor #19 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the game between the Charlotte 49ers and the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 14-3. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN – NOVEMBER 3: Nate Davis #64 of the Charlotte 49ers pass blocks Defensive lineman Darrell Taylor #19 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the game between the Charlotte 49ers and the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee won the game 14-3. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /

Nate Davis – IOL, North Carolina Charlotte

An accomplished and experienced lineman, Nate Davis has earned All-Conference C-USA honorable mention twice at right guard and All-Conference C-USA second-team as a right tackle in 2018. But because of his 6-foot-3, 316-pound frame and lack of length, Davis will likely stick to guard in the NFL.

Davis is powerful out of his stance and offers good foot speed to shift around the pocket. Although his combine results were average — 5.23 second 40-yard-dash, 26-inch vertical, 23 bench-press reps, 107-inch broad jump, and 7.94-second three-cone-drill, the former Charlotte 49er is a functional athlete and knows how to follow rushers’ paths with fluid hips and quick feet.

Per Pro Football Focus, Davis allowed

"all of four pressures on 234 pass-blocking snaps this past season between tackle and guard. He’ll end up at the latter in the pros."

Davis a cerebral blocker that can fit in many blocking schemes and knows how to gain proper leverage. But he has a ways to go until his game is complete. His anchoring ability is subpar due to a lack of length, explosiveness out of the snap. He’s shown some really poor reps on tape as when he gets beat, he gets beat.

But the North Carolina Charlotte product should get drafted fairly high. His game seems to fit any scheme, and he seems to have good football IQ. To some, he could look like a first-round prospect, and he showed that often, but he will need to compensate for his frame in the NFL.

Round projection: 2nd-4th round, Davis may have lucked into a weaker offensive guard class. But it doesn’t mean he couldn’t drop because of his size. However, he has future starter written all over him, which could interest the Cardinals.

Next. Arizona Cardinals S D.J. Swearinger is excited. dark

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