Don Davis (defensive tackle)
{{Short description|American football player (1943–2018)}}
{{Distinguish|Don Davis (linebacker)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Don Davis
| image =
| number = 76
| position = Defensive tackle
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1943|12|16}}
| birth_place = Santa Ana, California, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 6
| weight_lbs = 285
| high_school = Santa Ana (California)
| college = Santa Ana (1962–1963)
Cal State Los Angeles (1964–1965)
| draftyear = 1966
| draftround = 2
| draftpick = 25
| afldraftyear = 1966
| afldraftround = 1
| afldraftpick = 7
| pastteams =
- New York Giants ({{NFL Year|1966|1967}})
|highlights=
- Junior college national champion (1962)
| pfr = D/DaviDo21
}}
Donald Earl Davis (born December 16, 1943) is an American former professional football defensive tackle who played one season with the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Giants in the second round of the 1966 NFL draft after playing college football at California State College at Los Angeles.
Early life
Donald Earl Davis was born on December 16, 1943, in Santa Ana, California.{{cite web | url=https://profootballarchives.com/players/d/davi08000.html | title=Don Davis | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=12 January 2025}} He attended Santa Ana High School in Santa Ana.
College career
Davis first played college football for the Santa Ana Dons of Santa Ana College from 1962 to 1963. The 1962 Dons went 10–0 and were named national junior college champions.{{cite news|title=Dons Sitting On Top Of World: Santa Ana Claims National JC Football Championship|newspaper=The Register|date=December 17, 1962|page=A8|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-register-dons-sitting-on-top-of-worl/144339775/|via=Newspapers.com}} He transferred to play for the Cal State Los Angeles Diablos of California State College at Los Angeles from 1964 to 1965. He played in the Chicago Charities College All-Star Game after his senior season.{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news/162915636/ | title=Young Ideas | work=Daily News | date=July 31, 1966 | accessdate=12 January 2025 | author=Young, Dick}}
Professional career
Davis was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the first round, with the 7th overall pick, of the 1966 AFL draft and by the New York Giants in the second round, with the 25th overall pick, of the 1966 NFL draft.{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DaviDo21.htm | title=Don Davis | publisher=Pro Football Reference | accessdate=12 January 2025}} He chose to sign with the Giants. He was given the nickname "Buddha" while at Giants training camp in 1966 because he reportedly looked like a "glob" when he sat with his legs folded underneath him. Davis played in all 14 games, starting 11, for the team during the 1966 season, recording 3.5 sacks. He had a fight with Bookie Bolin at Giants training camp in 1967.{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-star-ledger/162915372/ | title=Sherman calls it "spirit" as Davis, Bolin fight | work=The Star-Ledger | date=July 27, 1967 | accessdate=12 January 2025 | author=Klein, Dave | pages=29, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-star-ledger/162915554/ 30]}} Davis was placed on injured reserve later in 1967 and spent the entire season there. He was released in 1968.{{cite web | url=https://profootballarchives.com/transactions/d/davi08000.html | title=Don Davis NFL Transactions | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=12 January 2025}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Giants1966DraftPicks}}
{{San Diego Chargers 1966 draft navbox}}
{{ChargersFirstPick}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Davis, Don}}
Category:American football defensive tackles
Category:Cal State Los Angeles Diablos football players
Category:New York Giants players
Category:Players of American football from Santa Ana, California