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A. J. Davis (cornerback, born 1989) facts for kids

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A. J. Davis
No. 20
Position: Cornerback
Personal information
Born: (1989-07-06) July 6, 1989 (age 36)
Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
Height: 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight: 183 lb (83 kg)
Career information
High school: Clay-Chalkville
(Clay, Alabama)
College: Jacksonville State (2007–2011)
Undrafted: 2012
Career history
Player stats at PFR

Adrian Jarrell Davis, born on July 6, 1989, is a former American football player. He played as a cornerback for the New Orleans Saints in the National Football League (NFL). Before joining the NFL, he played college football at Jacksonville State University.

Meet A. J. Davis

Growing Up and High School Football

Adrian Jarrell Davis was born in Birmingham, Alabama, on July 6, 1989. He grew up playing high school football at Clay-Chalkville High School in Clay, Alabama. During his senior year in 2006, he was a very active player. He made 28 tackles, which means he stopped the opposing team's players 28 times. He also caught three interceptions, gaining 73 yards for his team. An interception is when a defensive player catches a pass meant for an offensive player. Davis also broke up six passes, stopping them from being caught. Plus, he returned 12 kicks for a total of 277 yards.

College Football Journey

After high school, Davis went to Jacksonville State University. He played for their football team, the Jacksonville State Gamecocks, from 2008 to 2011. In 2007, he was "redshirted." This means he practiced with the team but did not play in any games. This allowed him to gain experience and keep an extra year of eligibility.

Freshman Year (2008)

In 2008, his first year playing, he played in all 11 games. He started in nine of those games. He made 41 tackles and caught three interceptions. He also broke up six passes. For his great performance, he earned "All-Newcomer" honors in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC).

Sophomore Year (2009)

In 2009, Davis played in ten games and started eight. He had 23 tackles and caught one interception. He ran that interception back 55 yards for a touchdown! He also broke up five passes and recovered one fumble. A fumble is when a player drops the ball, and another player picks it up.

Junior Year (2010)

He missed the first game of the 2010 season because of an injury. But after that, he started in all 11 remaining games. He made 34 tackles and had one sack. A sack is when a defensive player tackles the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage. He also broke up four passes and blocked one punt. Blocking a punt means stopping the opposing team's kick before it can go far.

Senior Year (2011)

In his senior year in 2011, he made 28 tackles. He also caught two interceptions and broke up three passes. He recovered another fumble as well. His strong play earned him "All-OVC" recognition. While at Jacksonville State, Davis studied exercise science.

Playing in the NFL

After college, A. J. Davis hoped to play in the National Football League (NFL). In the 2012 NFL draft, he was not chosen by any team. This means he was "undrafted." However, the New Orleans Saints signed him on May 7, 2012.

First Years with the Saints (2012-2013)

He faced some challenges with injuries. On August 11, 2012, he was "waived/injured." This means the team let him go because of an injury. He then went on "injured reserve" on August 13. Players on injured reserve cannot play for a period of time. He was later waived again on August 17. But he didn't give up! The Saints signed him to their "practice squad" on November 6. The practice squad is a group of players who practice with the team but are not on the main roster.

Davis was moved to the main team roster on December 28, 2012. He made his official NFL debut on December 30, 2012. This game was against the Carolina Panthers. He played two snaps, which are short plays, on "special teams." Special teams are units that play during kickoffs, punts, and field goals.

In 2013, he was waived/injured again on August 19. He spent the entire 2013 season on injured reserve.

Later Years and Free Agency (2014-2015)

On June 23, 2014, he was waived/injured for the third year in a row. He went back to injured reserve the next day and missed the entire 2014 season. Davis became a free agent on March 10, 2015. This means he was free to sign with any team.

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