Recruiting Article Pitt's pursuit made the difference with four-star RB Davis

[Chris Peak]

As AJ Davis approached the final stretch in his recruitment in January, he focused on some key factors that mattered.

He wanted a chance to play. He wanted a school where he felt like he was home. And, perhaps most importantly, he wanted a coaching staff that truly wanted him.

Pitt checked all the boxes.

https://pittsburgh.rivals.com/news/pitt-s-pursuit-made-the-difference-with-four-star-rb-davis

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

Wow.....AJ Davis has the same vision and quick outside edge corner speed as TD Dorsett as I can see and recall. Once he makes his moves he makes others miss and runs through them in creases and pieces and once on the outside just out runs his pursers.

AJ will play in the First Games and Season at Pitt as a Gifted Running Back!

 

[Chescat]

Wow.....AJ Davis has the same vision and quick outside edge corner speed as TD Dorsett as I can see and recall. Once he makes his moves he makes others miss and runs through them in creases and pieces and once on the outside just out runs his pursers.

AJ will play in the First Games and Season at Pitt as a Gifted Running Back!

I just took a look at his tape. I'm also very impressed, but to say he "has the same vision and quick outside edge corner speed as TD Dorsett" is a bit much. Are there some simalirities?...yes; but "the same"...sorry can't agree. I like what I see of Davis, and I'm hoping to see greatness from him right away in Sept. Until then, I'll hold off on my TD Dorsett comparisons.

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

I just took a look at his tape. I'm also very impressed, but to say he "has the same vision and quick outside edge corner speed as TD Dorsett" is a bit much. Are there some simalirities?...yes; but "the same"...sorry can't agree. I like what I see of Davis, and I'm hoping to see greatness from him right away in Sept. Until then, I'll hold off on my TD Dorsett comparisons.

I want differing opinions and do expect others will differ.

However, in Dorsett's 1970s Days I saw him often in High School and CFB when he went into the Line Off Tackle ran to right or left and just made the right spot with his eyes and took off on the edges, around and through the Ends, and just as it looked like he going to get caught, just showed even more speed and Players that did have the angle on him never got there, and just too late. Can't teach it and just have to see it.

At that time, running a 4.4 or 4.5 were few to none compared to today. Many run 4.4 do it and AJ is running through Defenses with Players that have such speed more today too. Dorsett's special skills was Quickness & Speed, but even more important his Vision. Why his Nickname was "Hawk" in High School! One Can't Coach Vision either.

Now Majors did teach one thing that Dorsett said improved his game and that was it only takes one move to to get by someone, no need to waste the fakes, jerks and knees, make the one fake and run pass him. Tony said that improved his game big time in CFB. AJ already has that move right now.

One has to recall too, in Dorsett First Year at Pitt he was only 5'10"150 lbs and gain 1400+ Yards and that was against good teams. In Sophomore season he was keyed on and hit often and barely made a 1,000 yards being hurt as he was growing but still small.

By his Junior Season he has become bigger and stronger with quick conditioning lifting weights in quick reps not bulky up trying lift at higher weights. I used to see him work out with those quick 10 reps at a lower weights at Dr. Zernich's Estate when in Golden Panthers. By the time his Junior and season came around he was at 190lbs and now bigger and just as quick, but still had that vision.

AJ Davis is coming in around 5'10"200 lbs as a Freshmen! AJ has the Big Thighs and Skinny Calf's like Dorsett too! But that Vision sees 2 to 3 moves ahead of those pursuing him, and one head move and gone, it can't be taught.

I can wait to see if I am right this season. We can discuss it later in the season. I am saying right now, AJ Davis has special moves, quickness/speed, but most importantly has the Vision and can see the field and players coming at him, then avoids them with one fake and off to the races as you can see how he separates from players right behind him and with angles, and can't catch him as his true speed steps on and gone.

The way the Coaches reacted is also an indication they know AJ is special, and is bigger and stronger to play in his First Year.This is how Johnny Majors reacted too first time he saw Dorsett at Pitt Practice take the Ball and ran 80 Yards as Major followed him down the sidelines and often quoted that is how he knew he had a Running Back for Pitt. The rests is NCAA Rushing Record, Heisman, National Championship, Super Bowl, Top 10 NFL Running Back & Halls Of Fames History!

Coach Pat & Staff know AJ is Special and can see it too!

Wait, watch, and see no need to believe right now!!!

 

[Chescat]

I want differing opinions and do expect others will differ.

However, in Dorsett's 1970s Days I saw him often in High School and CFB when he went into the Line Off Tackle ran to right or left and just made the right spot with his eyes and took off on the edges, around and through the Ends, and just as it looked like he going to get caught, just showed even more speed and Players that angle on him never got there.

At that time, running a 4.4 or 4.5 were few to none compared to today many do it and AJ is running through Defenses with Players that have such speed more today too.

Dorsett's special skills was Quickness & Speed, but even more important his Vision. Why his Nickname was "Hawk" in High School! One can't Coach Vision.

Now Majors did teach one thing that Dorsett said improved his game and that was it only takes one move to to get by someone, no need to waste the fakes, jerks and knees, make the fake and run pass him. Tony said that improved his game big time in CFB. AJ already has that move.

I can wait to see if I am right this season. We can discuss it later in the season. I am saying right now, AJ Davis has special moves, quickness/speed, but most importantly has the Vision and can see the field and players coming at him, then avoids them with one fake and off to the races as you can see how he separates from players right behind him and with angles, and can't catch him as his true speed steps on and gone.

The way the Coaches reacted is also an indication they know AJ is special, and is bigger and stronger to play in his First Year.This is how Johnny majors reacted too first time he saw Dorsett at practice and knew he had a Running Back. Coach Pat & Staff know it too! What AJ has is special and the Coaches know it.

Wait, watch and see no need to believe right now!!!


...

That was a great tape to use with the RB coach explaining what Davis can do. Like I said in my first reply....I can see similarities between what Davis does and what Dorsett did. Dorsett was
a special talent the likes of which we haven't seen here, even with RB's like McCoy, Richards,
Connor, Martin, etc. Now, if Davis can approach the greatness of those guys, I'll be very happy.
Approaching Dorsett's greatness??...OK, I'll be patient and wait, and as you said..."no need to
believe right now." It's not a case of "believing" or not "believing right now." it's more of let's
get him on campus, get him adjusted to life in the fast lane...and then seeing how he produces.

 

[joeydavid]

If Sibley and Davis can match the production of Lewis and Graham- I think every Pitt fan would be thrilled with those two.

Wow.....AJ Davis has the same vision and quick outside edge corner speed as TD Dorsett as I can see and recall. Once he makes his moves he makes others miss and runs through them in creases and pieces and once on the outside just out runs his pursers.

AJ will play in the First Games and Season at Pitt as a Gifted Running Back!

 

[Chescat]

If Sibley and Davis can match the production of Lewis and Graham- I think every Pitt fan would be thrilled with those two.

Thanks for those two...when I mentioned Pitt's great RB's of the somewhat recent past, I failed to mention Lewis and Graham. Sibley and Davis matching those two would be a major accomplishment. We'll have five decent RB's in the fall assuming that the two newcomers are up to speed. It'll be interesting to watch.

 

[#99HUGHgreen]

I can see how people might see a little TD and maybe a little bit of Lewis in Davis. We will just have to wait and see how good Davis (and Sibley) can be. We should all be very excited. I love Olison and Miss had been solid, but I am just itching to see these two in their first real game in a Pitt uniform.

Not that this pair will necessarily prove to better than Lewis and Graham at Pitt (which we all know would be very hard to do), but I may be more excited about Davis and Sibley than I have been about any other pair of RBs recruits coming in together.

Note: Lewis and Graham had a lot of us on cloud nine when we first got to see them in action at Pitt, (and their tapes were very impressive) but because they were smallish, there was always that feeling that maybe they might struggle a bit more against bigger and stronger college players- a thought that disappeared the first game they saw action at Pitt.

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

I can see how people might see a little TD and maybe a little bit of Lewis in Davis. We will just have to wait and see how good Davis (and Sibley) can be. We should all be very excited. I love Olison and Miss had been solid, but I am just itching to see these two in their first real game in a Pitt uniform.

Not that this pair will necessarily prove to better than Lewis and Graham at Pitt (which we all know would be very hard to do), but I may be more excited about Davis and Sibley than I have been about any other pair of RBs recruits coming in together.

Note: Lewis and Graham had a lot of us on cloud nine when we first got to see them in action at Pitt, (and their tapes were very impressive) but because they were smallish, there was always that feeling that maybe they might struggle a bit more against bigger and stronger college players- a thought that disappeared the first game they saw action at Pitt.

I like the Pitt Running Back Weapons and Various Sizes. Moss, Hall, Vreen, Davis, Sibley all Dorsett Sizes of 5-10"-5'11" and 200 lbs.

While Ollison & Wood are more the size of Conners at 6'-6'2" 200+lbs.and need to run and catch like him with the stiff arms.

Aston & Sellers FB are the 6'0"-6'1" 230-245lbs are Monsters.

Depends who runs and when and on what plays as now missing Conners that was often keyed on and could catch and run too. Not sure is Ibrahim 6'1" 195lbs is back too?

Depends on OLs blocking and OC Watson calling when and whom?