UTC defensive lineman Keionta Davis sacks Samford quarterback Devlin Hodges during the Mocs' home football game against the Bulldogs at Finley Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016, in Chattanooga, Tenn.
UTC's Keionta Davis (93) and A.J. Hampton (42) against WoffordSix tackles. One sack.
One big mission accomplished.
Former Red Bank High School and University of Tennessee at Chattanooga standout Keionta Davis set out at last week's Senior Bowl to prove to NFL scouts and doubters that he could produce at a high level against highly regarded competition, and the 6-foot-3, 274-pounder had a performance Saturday that proved what he already knew.
That he could play at the next level.
"It was a great experience," Davis said Monday night in an interview with the Times Free Press. "I got to talk to a lot of scouts and got a feel for what they like (and are) looking for, and also getting to meet all the players and competing with them was fun."
He'd heard the whispers. Despite his 23.5 sacks in his final two seasons at UTC and being named the Southern Conference defensive player of the year, there were questions about whether he could "compete with top talent." Some of those questions were answered with a second-quarter sack of former Iowa quarterback C.J. Beathard in which he used one of his top moves - a speed rush around the edge - to trip up the quarterback for a 7-yard loss.
Davis also shared a tackle for loss in the game.
Now he goes back to training. Both he and former UTC offensive lineman Corey Levin have received invitations to the NFL draft combine from Feb. 28 to March 6 in Indianapolis.
Davis is currently training at Exos, located at the Andrews Institute in Pensacola, Fla.
"It felt great to go and compete," he said of the Senior Bowl. "It shows I can produce against top talent, which was a big question coming in."
Johnson picks UTC
On the eve of national signing day, former Baylor School standout Cole Johnson announced on Twitter that he will continue his football career at UTC.
Johnson will be a preferred walk-on. The 6-foot, 250-pounder played fullback and defensive line for the Red Raiders in 2016 and earned all-state honors as an offensive lineman.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenleytfp.