Despite opponents’ efforts, ASU’s Davis a force

All season, opposing teams have tried their hardest to make Dexter Davis as silent on the field as the Arizona State defensive end typically is off it. For the soft-spoken junior, that has meant a steady diet of double-teams or plays designed to go away from him. However, Davis is usually not isolated for long.

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If the ball does not come his way, the 6-foot-2, 251-pound Davis has a tendency to find it.

“During the game, I don’t see it because I have to do my own thing,” linebacker Mike Nixon said. “But when you watch film, you’re like, 'Holy smokes, this guy is in on every play.’ …

“You never know he’s there until you see him make the big stop. And then he goes right back to work.”

Despite the extra attention, Davis is not far off the statistical pace of his breakout 2007 season, when he had 10 1/2 sacks and 13 1/2 tackles for loss. Through seven games this year, he has five sacks (tied for third in the Pac-10) and eight tackles for loss.

“It gets a little frustrating, but I’ve put in a lot of hard work, and that has showed,” Davis said. “I just try to push through it and use all those double-teams as motivation, and take it as a compliment, really.”

The double-teams that Davis commands free up other defenders. Nixon, who leads the team in tackles, said that Davis has been a factor in his success.

Like Nixon, Davis was a first-team selection on Phil Steele’s All-Pac-10 midseason squad.

“He’s had a great year. I couldn’t be happier,” coach Dennis Erickson said. “I don’t know where he rates in the (conference), but he’s somebody that the other team has to deal with every week with their blocking. Just like that kid at Oregon (Nick Reed), you have to be responsible for Dexter. He’s that good.”

Davis was a somewhat surprising starter out of training camp as a freshman in 2006. The two-time state wrestling champion at Phoenix Thunderbird quickly began using his mat skills to get leverage on blockers.

The Sun Devils’ defensive improvement in games at California and Southern California was triggered in part by Davis.

He was especially effective at USC, where ASU film study indicated that he got to quarterback Mark Sanchez eight times, including a blind-side hit that forced a fumble.

Statistics might not reflect it, Davis feels he is a better player than at this time in 2007.

“I’ve definitely improved from last year,” Davis said. “There are still things I want to work on and continue to improve. There always will be. I’m pleased with where I’m at. I wanted to work on my strength and conditioning. My fundamentals were pretty good, but I think I’ve improved there, as well.”

Nixon said he cannot think of one play this season that defines Davis.

“All I can picture is him coming off the edge and putting his helmet in the quarterback’s back,” Nixon said. “Dexter has probably done that 15 times this year, and even when he doesn’t get the sack, the quarterback is not standing in there as high as he did before.”

Davis could have a tough decision on his football future after this season, with the NFL a possibility.

Since most draft analysts do not project where underclassmen would be taken until they declare their intention to go pro, there are few forecasts concerning Davis, who was rated the No. 28 defensive end in the country by Phil Steele before the season.

“I haven’t really thought about (the draft),” Davis said.

Davis is smaller than the prototypical NFL defensive end. However, Dwight Freeney of the Indianapolis Colts and Elvis Dumervil of the Denver Broncos have had success despite being considered undersized for the position.

“I’m just focused on this season and what I have to take care of,” Davis said. “I’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.”