Felton Davis III Brings Size, Upside As WR Target

Felton Davis III didn't catch many passes last year for Highland Springs High School's football team.

He knows the number of grabs - 18. He knows the yardage amount - 466. Of course, he knows the touchdown total - 10.

The 6-foot-3, 180-pound target also understands his abilities can't be defined by statistics alone. He loves another part of his game, a dimension that opened eyes in his recruitment.

"I love blocking," Davis says. "It gets you going if you drop a pass or get frustrated, you can just get out your anger on the defense and your teammates will do anything for you.

"You're going to get the ball and get rewarded for blocking."

His coach knows what Virginia Tech offers to the young man. Loren Johnson played defensive back from 1995-98.

This season will be Johnson's seventh in charge of the Springers' program.

"Felton's biggest strength is also his biggest weakness right now and that's his size," Johnson says. "He's long and can go up and get the ball. He has to get in and out of pass coverage and work in smaller spaces."

Johnson admits that Davis' targets were a result of a loaded wide receiver corps. More than a dozen players caught passes last year for Highland Springs.

All but one of the pass catchers returns in 2014.

"We mostly play in 11-personnel," the former Hokie says. "Felton can do it all. We have a lot of shorter corners around here but he can run all the routes in our route tree."

For longtime Tech fans, Johnson spouts out a familiar name when asked about Davis' potential.

Jermaine Holmes - whose 32-yard touchdown catch beat UVa. in 1995 - stands out in the Springers coach's mind.

"He's got the same big frame and the same mindset," Johnson says. "Felton will be great doing everything."

Davis competes in the high jump and long jump among other sprints and hurdles on the Highland Springs track team. His personal best vertical came at the U.S. All-American combine, where he registered a 36-inch leap.

He oozes athleticism and enjoys jump-ball situations. He also loves the classroom.

The Richmond-area school boasts a magnet program for engineering. Davis has been enrolled in the program for three years and owns a 3.3 GPA.

He wants to be a civil engineer.

"I want a good education," he says. "Football doesn't last forever."

Two of Davis' friends on the Hokies' roster - Jerome White and Sam Rogers - have spoken highly of their experiences in Blacksburg to the prospect.

The family-like atmosphere described to him has put them in the top of his potential landing spots. He will attend the school's spring game on April 26 but will not make a decision in the near future.

"Felton's upside?" Johnson asks. "Goodness gracious. We haven't really seen him at his best yet and everybody will understand why he's being recruited so highly when they do."

Highland Springs finished 8-2 last season in Group 5A.

"I want to get bigger, develop better quickness and get in and out of my routes," Davis says of his goals next season. "I want to make the big catches when the game's on the line. I never take a play off."

Felton's highlights are available on his Hudl.