Only 90 shopping days left until Notre Dame! So let's meet #90:
#90 DE Claude Davis
Senior, 6'2", 233 lbs.
Stats in 2010: Played in 12 games, missing Rutgers. Had one tackle, against West Virginia, during a third-quarter drive.
Current Spot on Depth Chart: Second-string left defensive end, behind sophomore Ryne Giddins.
How did he come to USF: From East Mississippi Community College. Signed with USF in 2007 out of Lake Gibson High School (where he played alongside Matt Grothe) but did not qualify academically. Played two seasons at EMCC, and was a star on the 2009 team that went 11-1 and placed a whopping 26 players at four-year schools.
Recruiting Rankings: Out of high school, ESPN rated him #126 among all defensive linemen. Rivals rated him 40th at his position and 99th among Florida high school prospects. According to Claude himself, he had offers from Clemson, Mississippi State, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Iowa State, and Ohio.
Projected Playing Time for 2011: Claude looks like he will be the top backup at DE behind Giddins and Patrick Hampton. Guys like Anthony Hill and JuJu Forte will try to move up the rotation, but Claude should hold them off to be the third man in the rotation. That USF has someone as talented as Davis to fill this role speaks to the team's depth at defensive line.