FAYETTEVILLE — In a way, Arkansas linebacker Wendel Davis stands as a symbolic figure for the very defense he serves as a co-captain.
He isn’t flashy, isn’t overpowering and isn’t a headline grabber, but he is dedicated to his task, he’s a plugger and he’s opportunistic.
Davis has gone about his work as a fourth-year senior and turned in a solid season for an Arkansas defense that plays in the shadow of its glitzy offense.
“I’m never satisfied, but I’m happy with how far I came and the opportunities I’ve been given,” said the low-key Davis, who has started 19 games for the Razorbacks. “I feel fortunate and blessed. I’m thankful for everything.”
Davis, of Sweeny, Texas, was due to have a less stressful senior season after what he endured in 2008 as a rocky lead-up to his junior year.
“He was productive and he was healthy,” Arkansas defensive coordinator Willy Robinson said. “That not only helps himself, obviously, but the structure of the defense, because he’s a guy who gets people lined up and he understands what we’re trying to get done.”
Davis, who never redshirted, also made a sacrifice to the first year of the Bobby Petrino regime that gets little publicity.
Coming off knee surgery from a winter conditioning injury, Davis fast-tracked his rehabilitation and was playing by the third week of the season against Alabama because the Razorbacks were in dire need at linebacker.
Davis also had broken bones in his hand from an incident that summer when he smacked the windshield of a vehicle whose driver had allegedly intentionally bumped his scooter. Davis and the driver had been involved in a previous flare-up over a woman.
“Last year was a little shaky, and a lot of stuff went on,” Davis said.
By the fifth week of the 2008 season, Davis was active enough, despite still not being 100 percent, to post a career high 12 tackles in what was an outstanding defensive performance against eventual BCS champion Florida for three plus quarters.
In back-to-back road games his junior year, Davis’ efforts were key in what was Arkansas’ best minisurge of the season. He had an interception in a 25-22 victory at Auburn, then he forced a key fumble at Kentucky.
His work ethic and steady play inspired a pair of young linebackers that year, redshirt freshman Jerry Franklin and true freshman Jerico Nelson.
“He’s a motivator,” said Nelson, who related a tradition the two share of firing themselves up before running through the A prior to home games.
“He’ll come out on a day I’m not really feeling it and I look over and he’s attacking it full speed and things like that, so he’s a big guy to me,” Franklin said. “I really look up to him. He kind of helps me out on days when I’m feeling down.”
Robinson noted Davis’ demeanor in the defensive huddles as well.
“His leadership stands forth in the huddle,” Robinson said. “He did everything we asked him to do.”
Now Davis is ready for one more go as the Razorbacks take on East Carolina in the Liberty Bowl on Jan. 2.
“Going through these practices, it hasn’t hit me yet that this will be my last game,” Davis said. “I’m sure it will in the spring, when guys are having to report and I don’t have to report or anything. It’ll hit me then.
“Right now, I’m looking forward to this last game and I want to make it my best game.”Wendel Davis glance CLASS Senior POSITION Middle linebacker HEIGHT 6-1 WEIGHT 230 pounds AGE 21 (Aug. 16, 1988) HOMETOWN Sweeny, Texas BIOGRAPHY An all-state selection as a junior, he helped lead Sweeny to the playoffs for the first time in five years. Rated the No. 43 linebacker and No. 74 prospect in Texas by Rivals. Ranked the No. 83 prospect in state by Scout. Chose Arkansas over Arizona, Houston, Oklahoma State, SMU, Texas-El Paso and Tulsa.
STATISTICS Ranks second on team with79 tackles and led team most of the season. ... Recorded Hogs’ first takeaway of the season, an interception on the sixth snap against Missouri State. ... Only sack of the year came against Florida’s Tim Tebow. ... Posted 2 tackles in his true freshman debut against Southern California and went on to record 20 tackles, 2 for loss, in 2006. Had 39 tackles and 1 tackle for loss as a sophomore reserve, including a season-high 8 against Florida International. ... Suffered through injury affected junior year but still managed 53 tackles, sixth on team, despite missing three games.
Sports, Pages 21 on 12/23/2009