Wake Forest's most dangerous offensive weapon has yet to catch a single touchdown pass this season. Despite the current scoring drought of senior wide receiver Fabian Davis, his versatility and experience remain a considerable threat to every defense he faces.
In four games this season, Davis has devastated opposing teams, racking up big yardage on both offense and special teams.
"I was told that I was going to be a pretty big part of the game," Davis said. Wake Forest Coach Jim Grobe "told me he thought that I needed to get the ball in my hands about a sixth of the plays we run in the game. So far he's been living up to it, and we've had some good results and some bad."
Regardless of his lack of touchdowns, Davis' statistics speak for themselves. The standout wide receiver leads the Demon Deacons in receptions (14), total yardage (213) and yards per catch (15.2). In addition, this playmaker owns the hands and speed necessary to score the points he so desperately seeks.
"I'm itching to catch a touchdown pass," Davis said. "The receptions and the yardage and all, it's a good thing, but it really doesn't mean anything until you get in the end zone. I'm waiting for that first one so I can kind of break down that barrier and go on from there."
Davis also has made considerable progress in the rushing and special teams departments. So far this season he has amassed 172 rushing yards despite only touching the ball 18 times. This gives the Deacon dynamo an average of 9.6 yards per carry.
Considered one of the best punt returners in the ACC, Davis is averaging 18.4 yards per return with 129 total yards. The all-purpose player also recorded his only touchdown this season on an 82-yard punt return against Northern Illinois.
"I'm opportunistic, that's pretty much all it is," Davis said of his special teams skills. "It's always one on 11. That's how I look at it, and I say if I can beat six out of the 11, then I did a great job."
Davis has become an integral force within the Deacons football program in his four years on the team. In the 2000 season, he racked up 596 yards and three touchdowns. Last year his highlights included 306 yards and two touchdowns.
Davis also has earned respect for his abilities on the Wake Forest track team. His accomplishments include fourth in the 2002 ACC Championships in the triple jump and 11th in the high jump. He also achieved gold standard status in the weight room in two categories.
These numerous successes might lead one to wonder where the future of this ACC star lies.
"I'm pretty much the smoking gun this year," Davis said. "I'm trying to get everything right, and that's only if I do everything right this year that football and the NFL or whatever after that comes will fall in place."
In particular, Davis will be focusing on this weekend's upcoming game against the Cavaliers. All of Wake Forest shares Davis' enthusiasm in hosting Virginia in this highly anticipated battle of .500 teams.
"These guys will be after us," Grobe said of the Cavaliers. "We've got a little bit of a target on our chests."
Grobe said his team is up to the challenge. "Our guys are motivated to win. We've got to focus on ourselves and not worry about who we're playing."
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