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With long-term aspirations for a career in the legal profession, cornerback Lametrius Davis understands the importance of physical evidence.
Davis is among about 15 former Hawaii football players who will participate in UH’s pro day tomorrow at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. Representatives from every NFL team will attend the combine in which pro hopefuls will perform running, jumping and lifting drills.
Asked about his performance goals, Davis said: "I’ll take whatever numbers I get. No promises. I’m going to leave it all on the field."
To NFL teams, Davis, who is 5 feet 11 and 193 pounds, is an enigma.
As a UH junior in 2009, he was a physical bump-and-run cornerback with quickness and strength. But in January 2010, he began experiencing discomfort in his right knee. The condition lingered through the 2010 spring training. During the summer, he was diagnosed with a partially torn meniscus.
He underwent a medical procedure, was on crutches for a few weeks, then reported to training camp.
"I came back a little too early," Davis conceded.
But he bit his mouthpiece, and did not complain, even as he was limited in training camp. He struggled early in the season, and his draft stock spiraled. He played better as the season progressed.
"I got through it," Davis said. "That’s all that mattered."
Then in early January, Davis fell off the Hawaii radar.
This week, he re-emerged.
"I’ve been training all of the time in Portland," said Davis, who was raised in that Northwest city. "That’s where I’ve been hiding."
Alex Molden, a former NFL cornerback, has been coordinating Davis’ training program. They have known each other for several years. Molden has ties to Nike, and Davis has trained at the company’s two facilities. One is equipped with an artificial-surface field and track.
Davis also has worked with two speed coaches and a strength coach. He said he has focused on so-called explosive lifts.
"I didn’t have a great (senior) year," Davis said. "I’m sure there are a lot of doubts. I want to leave no doubts. I want to go to pro day and open some eyes. They always say you only need one team to like you. I hope that’s true."
Davis said hopes to do well in the 40-yard dash, although he does not want to predict a time. He said he once ran the 40 in 4.4 seconds.
"It was a JC combine, so I could have run slower," he said. "I’ll know for sure when I run at pro day."
After the pro day workouts, Davis will return to Honolulu. He is still is enrolled at UH, and is taking online classes this semester. He has completed work on his minor, general education, and needs to finish two more social science classes to earn a bachelor’s degree.
"I went to Hawaii to be a student and an athlete," Davis said.
Davis attended Butte College before transferring to UH in January 2009.
"The first thing coach (Greg McMackin) said to me was he wanted me to earn a degree," Davis recalled. "Coming in from a junior college, I knew it would hurt the school’s (academic progress rate) if you go two years and don’t graduate. I’m not trying to be shady at all. They gave me a chance and a scholarship, and I wanted to pay them back by doing well on the field and graduating."
