Maryland Athletics 2022 Hall of Fame Spotlight: Vernon Davis

Vernon Davis redefined the tight end position as a Terp and throughout his 14-year NFL career.

At Maryland, he led the team in receptions and receiving yards in the 2004 and 2005 seasons. He also finished his career tied for 15th in career receptions and is currently tied for 23rd on that list. 

"To be able to be a tight end and have some of the accolades that I have, it just showcases my true athleticism," Davis said. "It puts me in a category that's few and far between in terms of tight ends. I'm really proud to accomplish what I did at the University of Maryland."

Davis credits Antonio Gates and Kellen Winslow Sr. for setting the path for versatile tight ends. 

"Those guys made a case that this was the position that could do everything, that tight ends aren't just blockers, they're receivers as well," Davis said. "When I came to Maryland, I emulated them. I wanted to do everything those guys did and I worked really hard to accomplish that." 

Now, Davis is a trailblazer in his own right and will be enshrined in the Maryland Athletics Hall of Fame forever. 

"It's very rewarding," Davis said of the honor. "I'm pleased to know that the University of Maryland really wants to acknowledge the things that I've done and they want to celebrate me in that way. I'm very grateful for the opportunity. I look forward to the (ceremony). It means I've done some really good things in my life."

"I coached at Maryland on-and-off for 16 years," legendary Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen said. "There's a lot of good tight ends in Maryland's history and Vernon is up there as one of the best. He's incredibly deserving of this honor."

As a Washington, DC native, Davis grew up cheering for Maryland on Saturdays. He specifically remembers watching linebacker E.J. Henderson wreak havoc on opposing offenses and was also a big fan of Terp basketball legend Steve Francis.

"The tradition they established was great," Davis said. "I would always tell myself that I was going to go to school there one day. They made me want to be able to walk around and be called a Terp."

Rated as ESPN's third-best tight end in the nation, Davis could have gone anywhere he wanted when it was time to choose a college. However, Maryland was the choice that genuinely felt like home.

"A ton of other schools were recruiting me," Davis said. "But Maryland was the one that was always on my mind. I felt like it would be a great opportunity for me to stay close to my family. I couldn't pass it by."

The education he would receive also drew Davis toward Maryland. 

"A lot of people don't grow up in cities where there's a powerhouse team and a school like the University of Maryland. Maryland had a great football team, but also a great school system. Everything about Maryland was great."

Friedgen and the coaching staff were equally impressed with Davis, both on and off the field. 

"It wasn't hard to tell that he was going to be a great player," Friedgen said. "But the more I got to know Vernon, the more I was impressed by him as a person."

Davis came into Maryland with a versatile skill set, largely thanks to his days at Dunbar High School under coach Craig Jeffries. 

"We trained him like a receiver and we treated him like a little guy in a big body," Jeffries. "His quick feet, his hands, he could do a lot more for us than just the typical tight end stuff. He returned kicks and punts for us, we allowed him to play cornerback against bigger receivers. He was a piece of clay we could mold and use in many aspects to take advantage of his athletic ability and raw talent."

Davis took that raw talent to Maryland, where he became one of the best players in program history. 

His biggest season as a Terp came as a junior in 2005 when he was named First Team All-American and the team's MVP. His 871 receiving yards that season was fifth most in program history and still rank seventh for single-season receiving yards today.

Friedgen was actually on the All-American committee that year. According to him, there were some doubts among the voters if Davis should qualify as a tight end because he played so similarly to the wideouts. 

"I said, 'What are we doing here? I've got a kid who's got better stats than your wide receiver who just made All-American,'" Friedgen said. "Luckily some other people spoke up and we showed some tape of him blocking too, and everyone eventually came around."

As historic as that 2005 season was, one of Davis' fondest memories was the team's 41-7 Gator Bowl win over West Virginia during his freshman year. 

Davis had played sparingly on offense that year, spending most of his time on special teams. But Friedgen gave the younger guys some more reps in the bowl game, and Davis took full advantage.

"I turned a five-yard pass into a 25-30 yard play," Davis recalled. "I remember recording that play from the big screen onto my little pocket-sized camera. I would go around showing all my family and friends. I was just so excited about that one play. In my mind, that play kind of kicked off the rest of my Maryland career."

Davis learned valuable lessons during his time as a Terp, both on and off the field. 

"Maryland helped me in so many ways. It taught me to take advantage of every opportunity and to give my all to everything that I'm doing. There's so many memories, so many highlights. I could go on all day."

Those lessons stuck with him as he transitioned to the NFL, where the San Francisco 49ers selected him with the sixth overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft.

During his 14-year professional career in which he played for the 49ers, the Denver Broncos, and the Washington Redskins (now the Washington Commanders), Davis earned two Pro Bowl selections. He finished with 583 catches for 7,562 yards and 63 touchdowns.

Today, Davis has his foot in the door of multiple creative endeavors. He has acting credits in numerous movies, including Chariot, Gasoline Alley, and A Day to Die. He also has served as an executive producer on works such as A Message From Brianna. Finally, he's appeared as himself on numerous TV shows, including Dancing with the Stars and The Challenge.

Many people may not know that Davis' love for the creative arts began during his time at Maryland. 

Davis came into school as a criminal justice major. However, after taking a few art studio classes, he realized that major was the better fit.

"It was a moment for me to realize art was something I was in love with," Davis said. "I didn't know that before I changed my major. I always knew I liked the arts, but I didn't know I could actually be good at it."

Davis wasn't sold immediately, mainly because art studio wasn't considered a traditional major at the time. But, after a bit of prodding, he took a leap of faith. 

"I decided to take the chance," Davis said. "And that's what life is about: taking chances."

"The reason people don't succeed in certain areas is because they're afraid to take chances," Davis added. "And for me, I've never really been afraid to take a chance. I took that chance and didn't look back. I didn't know what was going to happen, but I just relied on my faith and my passion for what I was doing."

Davis does not take lightly what that decision did for his future.

"That change that I made at the University of Maryland is the foundation for what I do today."

He is also still heavily involved in the football world. Davis works closely with his former professional teams and stays connected with the Maryland program, most recently coming to fall camp to speak to the players. 

"It's important for me to stay involved in the University of Maryland community because this is where I'm from," Davis said. "I want to be a part of keeping all the DMV players here, because there's a lot of talent. It's a really great program here."

Similarly, it's important to Davis to stay in the hearts and minds of the Maryland faithful. 

"I hope Maryland fans remember the person that I was when I was in school, how benevolent and kind-hearted I was. I want them to remember my smile, the plays I made on game day and how I led the team by example."