COSTA MESA, Calif. — The final day of the draft was kicked off by the Chargers drafting speedy receiver/returner Derius Davis out of TCU. He can fly on the field no matter what position the Horned Frogs put him in.
The Chargers double-dipped on the Horned Frogs, having selected fellow receiver Quentin Johnston in the first round. Davis said he was at Johnston’s draft party on Thursday.
“We’ve been friends for quite a while since we got to TCU,” Davis said. “To have that relationship with him and being able to keep on playing with him, it is truly a blessing. I’m speechless right now.”
Davis will primarily be used as a punt and kickoff returner. He scored two punt return touchdowns last season and accumulated over 800 yards of return yards.
“I always tell people that I’m explosive,” Davis said. “Me personally, I feel like I get the party started. At TCU, there were times where we didn’t have any points on the board, and I was the first one to score during my return, so I feel like I’m a party starter. Hopefully, I can do that for the Chargers.”
He also could help on the receiving end, similar to what DeAndre Carter did for the team last season. TCU used his speed and abilities in many different ways.
The Chargers have added speed with this selection, having run a 4.36 40-time, so he might be on the field doing a lot of different things for his new team.
“At TCU, I produced in jet sweeps,” Davis explained. “They would line me up in the backfield sometimes. I feel like I’m a player that could go all over. I played outside, inside, went in the backfield a few times. I feel like my game is very versatile. I think that is something that I can do at the Chargers.”
Davis not only adds a returner but more depth to the receiving room. Last season, Keenan Allen and Mike Williams went down for numerous games, with the Chargers having to use Carter, Josh Palmer, and Michael Bandy as their primary targets.
The Chargers now have Allen, Williams, Johnston, Palmer, Jalen Guyton (recovering from torn ACL), and Davis. Much improved group. Davis could be the lighting rod that this team needs not only on special teams but also on offense.
“Once they called and were like, ‘Are you ready to be a Charger?’ I was like, ‘Hell yeah.’ Knowing Q went there, I have somebody in the city with me that I am familiar with,” Davis said. “It’s just a great time right now for me and my family and everybody that has supported me up to this time.”
