Carlton Davis III: ‘second to none’

Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Carlton Davis III (CD3) is heading into his 4th season with the team. When he was drafted out of Auburn in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft, he, like all rookies, had big dreams of winning the Super Bowl and becoming a superstar. Little did the former Tiger know, being a superstar in the NFL does not always give you the title or recognition that you deserve. Take notes from Lavonte David. The veteran linebacker has been a top-tier NFL player in his position and one of the team’s all-time best — recognition he is now starting to receive after eight long seasons.

Carlton Davis III may not have been a highly recruited player with a big name like Jalen Ramsey, but he doesn’t need to be. His play on the field speaks for him. Many Bucs fans would ridicule the kid from Miami, Florida, stating he gets burnt all the time and cover anyone worth a d**n, but most of that is attributed to Vernon Hargreaves. Bucs fans don’t want to hear sh**; just get your ass out there and play like Deion Sanders or else. 

I’ve been watching this kid since day one and kept a close eye on him. I am a real ‘strictler’, when it comes to defenders on my team, and Davis III was no exception; however, I immediately saw the potential. Sean Murphy-Bunting is another that caught my eye. 

*”If you check the numbers, check the stats, if you check the film, I’m second to none. At the end of the day, I know what I did. Fans know. If they don’t know, they will know.”- CD3 stated to the media.

*This quote was removed from the quote sheet, but various people had recorded it

Fans at first had not known it, as Davis III stated, but they sure do now. He may not be your Madden Highlight Reel type of player, you know, the one you set the stats on all the way up to 100, but Madden isn’t real; however, CD3 is. Being in the top 5 and even leading the league every season in passes defended is indicative of a lockdown cornerback. Before you laugh, consider the quarterbacks he has faced over the past three seasons. While you can’t call him Deion Sanders just yet, keep in mind that in the NFC South, alone, the types of receivers he faces and faced twice in a season. Of course, playing for a team that can easily toot their own horn in boasting some of the best pass-catchers in the game, CD3 has a privilege that many corners are not afforded’ Going against Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Antonio Brown.

“I’ve been saying it really since my rookie year that they’ve been getting me right every offseason and every [training] camp. To be able to go against Mike [Evans], Chris [Godwin], then we added A.B. (Antonio Brown) — and all of the other receivers — we’ve just got so much diversity with our receivers as far as quick, big, possession, strong. Just going up against those guys was just great for me because they allowed me to work on my technique and just get some game-like plays and reps in during this time where your developing and you’re trying to get back in the groove of the season. Those guys take no plays off. They’re always the same. They’re always trying to compete. To be able to compete with them just really prepares me, and not just this year. Every year I’ve been here, I’ve been prepared by them to go up against these other receivers. It allows me to play fearless because like I’ve seen it all just in practice alone with all of these guys we’ve got. I could name a bunch of them because of our offense — we have so many weapons. I love it because it’s more competition for me, and I can get better.” – CD3 stated to media on Sunday, 9/5/2021

You cannot deny that CD3 is pretty d**n good, and, in fact, I felt he was so good that I purchased his jersey this year — I haven’t purchased a cornerback’s jersey since the year 2000, and that was one of my all-time favorite corners Ronde Barber. — Sorry, Talib. 

If you do not think Carlton Davis III has broken out yet, keep your eyes on the young man this year. He may just surprise you.