Former Ohio State Buckeyes offensive lineman Wyatt Davis will have some older NFL figures feeling nostalgic.
Davis, who profiles as one of the 2021 NFL draft’s top offensive line prospects, is the grandson of Willie Davis. That name may not mean much to younger fans, but Willie was a dominant defensive lineman in his prime who later landed in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Ohio State’s Wyatt Davis is a top NFL draft prospect
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Justin Fields might not have become a top NFL draft prospect if he didn’t have Wyatt Davis blocking for him at Ohio State.
A former top recruit from California, Davis earned first-team AP All-American honors in each of the last two seasons. Davis moved to right guard late in the 2018 season and quickly became one of the country’s premier offensive lineman.
Most mock drafts currently have Davis going in the draft’s second round. It is always possible, however, that a team needing more offensive line depth takes a chance on Davis late in the first round.
Davis will likely continue playing guard in the NFL.
His grandfather, Willie, is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame
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Wyatt Davis quite literally has Hall of Fame bloodlines.
Wyatt’s grandfather, Willie, was a Pro Bowl defensive end in the 1960s who spent most of his career with Bart Starr and the Green Bay Packers. After playing his first two seasons in Cleveland, Davis joined the Packers in 1960 and quickly became one of the league’s most effective defensive lineman.
Davis won two Super Bowl rings in Green Bay and earned first-team All-Pro honors on five occasions, including every year from 1964 through 1967. He and George Blanda, the longtime Raiders quarterback and punter, were among those elected to the Hall of Fame in 1981.
Davis died in April 2020 at 85 years old.
Wyatt Davis hopes to follow in Willie’s footsteps
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Wyatt Davis is eager to make his late grandfather proud when he takes the field for an NFL game.
NFL Media recently profiled Wyatt and his journey to the NFL. Wyatt reflected on Willie Davis and referred to him as a “second father.” Willie won’t see his grandson play in the NFL, but Wyatt already knows how he will honor the Hall of Famer.
“When my name gets called, I know he will be smiling up above and definitely looking down on me as I continue this career.”
Wyatt Davis
Davis is a projected second-day pick who could sneak into the opening round. NFL Media’s Lance Zierlein compared Davis to Carolina’s John Miller, a veteran right guard who has started 42 of a possible 48 games over the last three seasons.
Zierlein praised Davis’s love of physicality and aggressive playstyle but suggested that the guard’s athleticism could hold him back.
“Davis should be an NFL starter for a power-based run scheme, but his lack of length, body control, and footwork prevent him from playing wide on a consistent basis,” Zierlein wrote.
The 2021 NFL draft begins Thursday, April 29, and ends on Saturday, May 1.
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