Returner Derius Davis has an enormous 'stake' in Chargers' particular groups

Most individuals have a look at the participant who initiates the new NFL kickoffs because the kicker.

Not Derius Davis.

“That man seems like a steak dinner to me,” stated Davis, slated to return kicks for the Chargers.

That’s as a result of if a returner can slip by way of a crease, it may depart him in a one-on-one state of affairs with somebody who makes his residing together with his toe, not his tackles.

The brand new guidelines put the vast majority of opposing gamers a lot nearer collectively for kickoffs, decreasing the probability of car-crash collisions and rising the prospect of considerable returns, versus touchbacks.

Learn extra: Kickers tackling? You’ll see them forced to try under new NFL kickoff rules

“Not solely did the league want [the new kickoffs], however I feel the gamers wanted it, simply to have that additional pleasure to go on the market and play in your brothers,” stated Davis, a second-team All-Professional punt returner as a Chargers rookie final season. “In the event you get an enormous return, that brings the momentum to the offense.”
 
Davis brings new which means to “23 and Me.” Not solely is he presently 23 years outdated, however in 2022 he was the one participant in both faculty soccer or the NFL to interrupt the 23 mph barrier in sport play. He was a receiver at Texas Christian on the time, taking part in at Colorado, and turned a brief reception into an 80-yard landing. He was clocked at 23.47 mph.

His faculty profession was a spotlight reel of explosive performs, and he’s had a handful of these within the NFL too, amongst them an 87-yard punt return for a landing towards the New York Jets, a 51-yard run towards the Las Vegas Raiders and, in a preseason sport this summer season at Dallas, a 70-yard landing run towards the Cowboys.

“It’s going to be an awesome alternative for me this season,” he stated. “They do an excellent job of teeing me as much as make huge performs. Week 1 is sort of right here. No matter my function is on offense, I’m going to place my finest foot ahead.”

Learn extra: Meet Sanjay Lal, Chargers receivers coach with hands on the key to an untested offense

That features kick returns, which determine to be safer than they as soon as had been. Nonetheless, they require steely nerves.

“Actually, I don’t give it some thought an excessive amount of,” he stated of the potential for violent collisions. “In the event you’re a returner centered on that, you’re already beat. However you must be powerful, particularly at my dimension. You’ve received these huge ol’ dudes coming down there at full pace, you for positive should have cajones.”

At 5 toes, 8 inches and 165 kilos, Davis is usually the smallest participant on the sphere.

Nothing a number of steak dinners can’t treatment.

And so on.

Cameron Dicker made 31 of 33 subject aim makes an attempt final season, his solely misses coming from past 50 yards. JK Scott returns because the punter. He averaged 46.3 yards per kick final season and his internet was 42.3. Thirty of his 75 punts landed contained in the 20 with solely 4 touchbacks. The lengthy snapper is Josh Harris, a 13-year veteran who spent the final two seasons with the Chargers.

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the L.A. sports scene and beyond from our newsletter The Sports Report.

This story initially appeared in Los Angeles Times.