81 days until Texas Football: Juan Davis looks for more than just special teams opportunity
Inside Texas is putting a new twist on long-time photographer Will Gallagher’s time-honored countdown to Texas football kickoff. In addition to Will’s great pictures, the Inside Texas staff will go through every player on the roster by jersey number and offer a season outlook on each, from five-star to walk-on.
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We’ll also look back at other greats to wear that day’s number, with special reverence to some of Texas’ best.
Today is 81 days until kickoff. No. 81 will be worn for the Longhorns this season by Juan Davis, a junior tight end.
Juan Davis season outlook
Davis was a part of Texas’ 2021 class and, along with Gunnar Helm and Ja’Tavion Sanders, projected to be strong options at tight end for Tom Herman. Then, Herman was dismissed after all three signed and Steve Sarkisian was brought in.
Herman’s offense often split the tight end out wide, but Sarkisian’s system does not do that with as much frequency. Plus, Sarkisian utilizes 12 personnel with two tight ends on the field more often, necessitating that one (if not both) of the tight ends need to be plus blockers.
Davis has plenty of athleticism and even earned some conventional down snaps during his freshman year in 2021, totaling one reception and one carry in five games. That athleticism translated to time on special teams in 2022, but not to any rushing or receiving statistics.
With Sanders and Helm occupying the top two spots, there’s still a chance for Davis to be a special teams contributor and step in on standard downs when one of those two need a breather. In order to do that, Davis is best served by continuing to add mass to his 6-foot-4, 221-pound frame. If he’s able to bulk up, become a strong blocker, and maintain his athleticism, Davis could be more of a factor at tight end than he has been in his Texas career.
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Davis is a third-year tight end who has appeared in 15 games, making one reception for zero yards and rushing once for three yards in his freshman season. He played mostly on special teams last year.
Juan Davis as a recruit
Davis was ranked as the No. 542 overall prospect, the No. 27 athlete, and the No. 84 player in Texas according to the 2021 On3 Industry Ranking, a proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all four primary recruiting media services.
Notable No. 81: Sam Acho
Acho was a four-year defensive end who also played at defensive tackle as a senior. He was Texas’ second William V. Campbell Trophy winner (nation’s top football student-athlete) in 2010 the year he also won the 2010 Wuerffel Trophy (all-around excellence in athletic, academic and community achievement) and ARA Sportsmanship Award.
Acho was the Longhorns’ seventh two-time Academic All-American and he was named second-team All-America by the Walter Camp Football Foundation and third-team All-America by the Associated Press in 2010.
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All-Americans to wear No. 81
Hub Bechtol, SE, 1944-46 – one of two three-time first-team All-Americans in program history
Maurice Doke, G, 1959
Pat Fitzgerald, TE, 1995-96
Carlton Massey, DE, 1953
Joe Parker, DE, 1943
Sam Acho, DE, 2010
Shane Dronett, DE, 1990
Joe Cook co-authored this story
