North Carolina State University Athletics
Q&A With A.J. Davis
8/12/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 12, 2003
One year ago, cornerback A.J. Davis was off to a great start in preseason camp before his season suddenly came to an end. During NC State's first preseason scrimmage at Carter-Finley Stadium, the freshman from Durham fractured his right fibula while trying to come up and make a tackle on a sweep. Davis would not return to the field again until last spring, when he rejoined the Pack in spring practice. During a recent question and answer session, the redshirt freshman talked about the trials and tribulations he has endured over the last 12 months.
Q: How were you able to turn last year's adversity into a positive this year?
A: "From the experience I gained by traveling with the team, I got an understanding for how fast the game was and what it's like to play in this type of atmosphere when you can't even hear yourself think. It was little things that I picked up."
Q: Do you think you'll be a better player down the line after going through this experience?
A: "I think I'm in the best situation that a cornerback can be in right now. I have four cornerbacks that are really experienced that are ahead of me right now that I can learn a lot from. This year, I'll have a chance to go out on the field and apply what I learned last year on the field, although I'll be a freshman again. I look forward to taking the next three years slow and trying to come around to being an All-American, a Heisman Trophy winner or a Thorpe Award winner."
Q: Are you a stronger person now?
A: "Definitely. I relied on my spiritual side and had to take a long look at the reality of life. I got a better understanding of why I'm here. I also got off to a great start academically and I met a whole lot of people while I was hurt. I look at people differently now. If I see a guy walking by on crutches I'll go over and give him a hand. Before, I would just look at him. Now I can really sympathize with a guy on crutches or in a wheelchair."
Q: How much did you miss football?
A: "I missed it a whole lot. When I used to go to the games it would be torture and practices would be even worse because I would reminisce about the times I had in practice. It would almost bring tears to my eyes when I'd see guys back there returning punts and I was sitting on the cart and couldn't do anything. It was really sad."
Q: You've added some pounds through weight training. How do you feel physically?
A: "I feel real good playing this big. I've never been this big in my life. When I hit somebody now I stick to them. Before when I hit them, they would just flinch a little bit. It really helps with jamming receivers at the line. A lot of receivers try to get their hands on you before you can get your hands on them. When I was just 160 pounds, a big guy like Jerricho (Cotchery), who had me by like 40 pounds, was just killing me on the line. Now I can hang in there a little longer."
Q: Have you lost any speed?
A: "I think I'm faster now. They told me I would be faster after my break and I really feel like I'm faster. I feel real good and confident about playing football right now. I've never been this confident in my life. It might be because Greg Golden, Marcus Hudson, Lamont Reid and Dovonte Edwards are so cocky. They might be rubbing off on me now."
With so many talented corners on this team, where do you see yourself fitting in the rotation?
Q: "I'm going to get a lot of playing time. When those guys get tired, I'm coming in. We play so much man coverage you have to rotate. The receivers are rotating every play, so we'll be doing the same thing they're doing. We need to keep fresh legs out there. There isn't going to be a big fall off when one of us comes into the game."
