UNI’s Johnson goes to Arizona, Iowa’s Davis to Baltimore

IOWA CITY - Northern Iowa running back David Johnson and Iowa defensive tackle Carl Davis ran into each often in their teams' season opener last fall. They will have a chance to meet again, this time on an NFL football field.

Both players were selected in the third round of Friday's NFL draft. The Arizona Cardinals picked Johnson 86th overall, while the Baltimore Ravens tabbed Davis four picks later. Both selections were lauded by NFL Network analysts.

Davis was considered a potential first-rounder but slipped through the late third round. He was the second Iowa player selected behind first-rounder Brandon Scherff, who went to Washington.

'Why do the Ravens always end up with these kind of guys?” NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock asked. 'Because (general manager) Ozzie Newsome and (assistant general manager) Eric DeCosta are patient, that's why.

'(Davis) had an outstanding Senior Bowl week. His Iowa tape didn't match up with his Senior Bowl tape. My theory is when he's one-on-one with a tackle or a guard and all he's got to do is beat that guy in a one-on-one situation, his physical traits win. But it's 11-on-11, he's still got a way to go as far as learning how to play the game. But he has dominating height, weight, speed, physical traits.”

Johnson was the seventh running back drafted. He rushed for 1,553 yards last year and finished with 2,527 all-purpose yards. He rushed for at least 100 yards in eight games had 200 all-purpose yards six times. He's the first UNI running back with three consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons. He holds 15 UNI records, including career all-purpose yards, career all-purpose yards per game, average yards per kick return and all-purpose yards in a season.

'I really like what he's going to add to Arizona,” former NFL running back LaDainian Tomlinson, who now works for NFL Network. 'He's going to be a great one-two punch with Andre Ellington but a guy who catches the ball really well. He moves well in space but a big-bodied guy. I'm really excited to see him take that next step in the National Football League.”

The Cardinals have a need at running back and were considered among the rumored candidates for Minnesota's Adrian Peterson. Arizona ranked 31st in rushing, and Ellington led the way with 660 yards at 3.3 yards per carry.

Davis (6-foot-5, 320 pounds) is highest drafted Iowa defensive lineman since defensive end Adrian Clayborn was picked in the first round in 2011. The last Iowa defensive tackle to go at least in the third round was Jonathan Babineaux in 2005.

As a second-team all-Big Ten defensive tackle, Davis recorded 36 tackles last year including nine tackles for loss and two sacks. At the Senior Bowl, Davis earned the defensive practice player of the week award.

Dan Shonka, general manager and national scout for Ourlads Scouting Services, wrote that Davis 'consistently gets that push at the point of attack and will demand attention. He can keep the linebackers behind him free of blockers while clogging the inside running lanes. Davis has some sneaky athleticism to his game as well.”

Shonka graded Johnson ahead of Alabama's T.J. Yeldon, who went early in the second round to Jacksonville. In his report, Shonka wrote, 'Johnson is an upright runner with good speed and receiving ability. He doesn't show the quick twitch and reaction between the tackles, but he has a high ceiling considering his tool set and ability to change direction with balance. His future may reside as a third-down back and return specialist with the upside to be much more.”

Johnson, a Clinton native, scored the first touchdown at the Senior Bowl and was earned the top running back award that week. Johnson (6-0, 224) was the first Northern Iowa played drafted since linemen Chad Rinehart and Brandon Keith in 2008.

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