Arizona Wildcats corner Tacario Davis named national DB of the week

Arizona cornerback Tacario Davis was named Jim Thorpe National Defensive Back of the Week on Tuesday after he was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week on Monday.

Davis was a key contributor in Arizona’s 23-10 upset win over Utah on Saturday.

The cornerback had five pass breakups and seven solo tackles. One of his pass breakups came in the end zone on a 4th-and-goal situation.

“It’s great to see Tacario smiling and having fun,” Arizona coach Brent Brennan said on Monday. “I think he really cut it loose and enjoyed the moment. He responded to the big stage and the big crowd the way you would expect him to. … As a lifetime receiver — player, coach — the space I’ve always operated in, the No. 1 thing you don’t like dealing with as a wideout or someone who’s coaching them is length. I’m just telling you.

“With (Davis), he’s got such length that that length becomes a problem. He can take vertical speed off you, and then he can get his hands on footballs a lot of other guys can’t.”

The junior from Long Beach, Calif., had more pass breakups than any other defensive back in the Big 12 during Week 5.

Davis was the second Wildcat to be named conference player of the week this season after receiver Tetairoa McMillan earned the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week after Arizona’s win over New Mexico in Week 1.

Tacario Davis’ NFL Draft stock gets a boost

Davis’ start to the season had been relatively quiet since entering the year on the radar of NFL Draft experts as a potential No. 1 pick.

He posted seven tackles in the season opener but didn’t pop much against No. 14 Kansas State two weeks ago.

The Utes did not shy away from throwing his way. While former Arizona receiver Dorian Singer racked up nine catches for 155 yards, Davis didn’t take the brunt of that damage.

He allowed five receptions in 13 targets against Utah, according to The Draft Network.

“I think the challenge for any great corner is: How do you respond to the play that was made?” Brennan said. “That corner position where you’re out there, you’re so naked. The whole world sees those matchups so clearly. So those corners have to be like a pitcher who just gave up a home run. I thought (Davis) did a great job answering that time and time again.”

And while Davis’ PFF score for the season isn’t in the mid-80s like it was a year ago — it’s in the mid-60s so far in 2024 — it’s his length and run support abilities that might keep him in the minds of pro scouts.

Related

Arizona Wildcats OC Dino Babers loses play-calling duties to Matt AdkinsBig 12 kickoff time set for Arizona football at BYU on Oct. 12ASU-Arizona Territorial Cup among top 5 rivalries in nation, study saysASU football to face toughest 2026 schedule among Big 12 teams, per ESPN metricsArizona rolls out Heisman Trophy campaign for QB Noah Fifita at Big 12 Media DaysBig 12 partnership with Monster Energy includes brand patches on football, basketball jerseys