Bison Spotlight: Julie'n Davenport

It has been nearly a decade since former Bucknell football player Sean Conover last suited up for the National Football League's Tennessee Titans. It has been nearly 50 years since Bison Hall of Famer Sam Havrilak was the most recent Bucknellian drafted, being selected by the Baltimore Colts in 1969. Senior OL Julie'n Davenport has a chance at ending those streaks and putting a Bison football player back in the NFL by this time next year.

In his fourth year as a starter at left tackle for the Bison, Davenport certainly has the credentials to move on to the next level. He is a three-time All-Patriot League selection, including a pair of First Team nods. Last fall, he was named a STATS FCS All-American and this year was a Preseason All-America selection by both Athlon Sports and STATS. Additionally, Davenport is a three-time Preseason All-Patriot League choice and a two-year captain. And he has started 35 consecutive games, the most of any player on this year's Bucknell squad.

Bucknell head coach Joe Susan, who coached a plethora of NFL players during his near-decade-long stint at Rutgers, has hinted at Davenport's ability to move on to the NFL since his rookie year in 2013. Now, that potential is close to becoming a reality. It was a common occurrence for NFL scouts to stop by preseason practice this year, and there are at least a handful of scouts observing tonight's game from the press box, all in Lewisburg to see the large 6'7”, 315-pound offensive lineman.

“When I came here, I was trying to be the best I can be from day one,” says Davenport. “I found in myself the potential to go to the next level. I came in starting as a freshman, but was always trying to play like I was one of the best players on the field regardless of class.

“Having the scouts in attendance certainly adds motivation to me and the whole team. You never want to look bad in front of an NFL scout. They are there. By rule they can't talk to me. I can't talk to them. I see them, but try to tune them out.”

Davenport is tuning them out for now, but he does have a plan to enhance his NFL opportunities following the conclusion of the Bucknell football season. The political science major was on campus every summer and thus is ahead in his classes and needs only a couple credits to earn his degree. He is currently working it out with Bucknell where he will be able to complete those credits remotely during the spring semester as he ramps up preparation for the NFL Draft.

Following the conclusion of his college football career, Davenport will choose an agent and a training facility where he will spend the majority of January and February working out and making sure he is in peak physical condition. He hopes for an invite to the NFL Combine, which last year was held in late February. He then plans to hold a pro day at Bucknell, where scouts will be invited to watch him work out and display his skills.

“I am excited to help get a little publicity for the school and to keep bettering myself and trying to raise my draft stock,” comments Davenport, who saw 41 offensive linemen drafted by NFL teams last year.

The 2017 NFL Draft will take place April 27-29 in Philadelphia, which is just across the Delaware River from Davenport's Paulsboro, New Jersey, home.

While that date is certainly circled on Davenport's calendar, he has at least nine other days prior to then underlined as well, and those are Bucknell's remaining games, including tonight's contest against Cornell.

Davenport, who chose Bucknell over Fordham in the recruiting process thanks to the constant communication he received from Susan and former assistant coach Chip Taylor, has his focus set squarely on the 2016 Bucknell football season despite the fact that he hopes to be suiting up on Sundays next fall.

“My goal is to dominate this season. Dominate every play. Dominate every aspect of the game I can control,” mentions Davenport. “I want to help this team to wins. We have the potential to win this league and we want a ring.”

Davenport made sure his preparation for the season was top-notch over the summer. As usual, he stayed at Bucknell to make use of the outstanding facilities and work out with Bison strength and conditioning coach John Field. However, this year, he limited other distractions and focused only on football preparation. No classes. No working, outside of umpiring an occasional softball game.

Davenport's routine consisted of working out with Field in the morning and then having the majority of the day to get in extra work, whether it was additional lifting, cardio or watching film. Eating was also a focus as he needs to keep his weight on the north side of 300 pounds.

“There is not a lot to do around here, especially during the summer, so I did not have any excuses,” Davenport says with a smile.

Susan, a former offensive lineman himself, has repeatedly mentioned how the performance of the offensive line is one of the keys for the Bison to be successful this year, and Davenport shares those sentiments.

“It is nice that most of the offensive line has been together for four years,” says Davenport, one of four senior starters on the line. “We are a close-knit group and we don't want to leave without a championship. We are all friends and have great communication. We have no problem telling each other when we have done something right or when we have done something wrong.”

After spending their entire careers blocking for the quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers that pile up the yardage and the headlines, all that offensive linemen want to do is touch the ball themselves. Davenport is one of the few that have had that opportunity. He had his number called on a couple of backward screens as a freshman and then once more as a sophomore. Davenport has piled up 47 career all-purpose yards, a gigantic figure for someone that has only played at left tackle.

“Those plays are exciting,” comments Davenport, who is a versatile athlete that possesses plenty of skills on the basketball court. “Touching the ball is an offensive lineman's dream and it is nice to have a few plays orchestrated for me. I wish I could have gotten in the end zone. We'll see if I get a chance this year. Coach Susan can be creative.”

Whether or not Davenport gets to touch the football again, he has certainly put all he has into making this a special season for Bucknell football. A winning record, Patriot League title and postseason success are what he wants now. He will worry about the NFL possibilities later.

Note: This story appeared in a recent Bucknell Football Gameday Program