‘He's a dog’: Jaguars WR Gabe Davis brings leadership, experience to young receiver room

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‘He's a dog’: Jaguars WR Gabe Davis brings leadership, experience to young receiver room

Juston Lewis, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union · The Florida Times-Union

Thu, Jun 13, 2024 ·

6 min read

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When the Buffalo Bills faced the Jacksonville Jaguars last season, wide receiver Gabe Davis wanted to put his best foot forward. Not only to help his then team, but he knew the Jaguars were a potential landing spot for him after the season.

Now, back in his home state, Davis is still putting his best foot forward as he settles with his new team.

"Jacksonville was a team, I was like, 'I want to show them what I'm about,'" said Davis, who was born just north of Jacksonville in Fernandina Beach and played college football at UCF. "Because you never know what's gonna happen. Now look what happened."

The fifth-year veteran receiver joined the Jaguars via free agency this offseason after spending the start of his career with the Bills where he recorded 2,730 yards, 163 catches and scored 27 touchdowns in four seasons.

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Gabe Davis (0) throws the ball during an organized team activity Tuesday, May 28, 2024 at EverBank Stadium's Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla. — Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Gabe Davis (0) throws the ball during an organized team activity Tuesday, May 28, 2024 at EverBank Stadium’s Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla.

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Davis saw a familiar face in the receiver room when he arrived in Jacksonville. Chad Hall was his receiver coach in Buffalo and now holds the same position with the Jaguars.

Hall said along with rookie Brian Thomas Jr., Davis was one of the smartest first-year players he's ever coached. He also lauded him for his leadership at such a young age, noting that Davis was voted a team captain when he was 23.

"He's a dog. He competes every play. He never takes a play off," Hall said of Davis. "You're gonna get whatever he's got every single day, practice or game. That's what he brings. And not only does he expect that from himself. He pushes other guys around him, and he expects that from everybody else."

Davis has experience: 62 regular-season games, seven playoff games in four years

Not only does Davis bring leadership, he also brings experience. Though still a young player, he has played in a lot of important football games. He's come up big in those games, as well.

That's something Hall is excited about as the Jaguars continue to try to push their way into the league's upper echelon.

"He's been in those big playoff games, so he's [been] under pressure," Hall said. "I think that's so valuable. [In] this league, experience is valuable."

Davis has been limited in offseason practices due to a knee injury he's recovering from. Head coach Doug Pederson said the team is allowing him to take his time for recovery, but he should be full go by the time training camp starts later in July.

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Gabe Davis (0) catches a pass during an organized team activity Tuesday, May 28, 2024 at EverBank Stadium's Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla. — Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Gabe Davis (0) catches a pass during an organized team activity Tuesday, May 28, 2024 at EverBank Stadium’s Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla.

It's an adjustment, but it hasn't stopped Davis from sharing wisdom with younger players and being fully engaged throughout the grueling summer days.

"It's been a little difficult coming to a new team but then having to take it step by step, slowly," Davis said. "Not being able to go out there with the guys and compete, [or] be able to go out there and make some plays with my boys, but I'm trying to be supportive the best way I know how and be a good teammate."

To Davis, being a good teammate isn't about getting the glory or making the splash plays. It's about doing the dirty work, the things that won't show up on a highlight reel but are equally important if your team wants to win.

"Do everything they ask me. Whether it's going there in the B Gap and go block the safety or go catch touchdowns deep," Davis said. "I mean, you got to be able to do it all and show the guys behind you that you know, you can do whatever it takes to win so that's my mindset."

For Hall, it speaks volumes having a player come in and be willing to sacrifice to win. It also means the team can run different plays while keeping the same personnel, making it easier to disguise what they want to do.

"It's big when one of your starters can be that guy, that physical presence who can take over a block," Hall said. "You can insert them on the line of scrimmage. You don't have to bring someone else in to do it."

Trevor Lawrence , Gabe Davis could be dynamic combination

While Davis isn't afraid to do the dirty work, one of his better abilities is being a downfield threat. He's had receptions of 49 or more yards in each of his previous seasons. Paired with Trevor Lawrence, the duo could continue the streak this season.

"He's a great quarterback. I've watched him from afar," Davis said when asked about Lawrence. "Being from Florida, I always kind of watch the Florida teams as it is, but great player. We're all still growing together getting the chemistry down. Me and him are probably, when it comes closer to camp, [we'll] still be getting together trying to get that chemistry."

The two players were seen working on that chemistry during a special teams period of the seventh OTA. The quarterbacks and receivers went to the far field of the Miller Electric Center to throw a few routes.

Lawrence tossed passes to all the starting receivers, but after mistiming a pass to Davis, the two ran the route again. Then, after completing the next pass, they huddled up to talk.

It's a common occurrence between quarterback and receiver but is especially important since Davis hasn't been taking live reps against defenses.

Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Press Taylor looks on during the OTAs.

Offensive coordinator Press Taylor talked about how the team brought the offense down to the studs to rebuild it this offseason. The addition of Davis plays a big role in that process as does adding Thomas to the receiver room.

The team now has multiple pass catchers who can be outside deep threats and can open up routes underneath for Christian Kirk and Evan Engram .

Taylor wants the offense to be more explosive this year and Davis feels like they have the tools to do it.

"I feel like when he says that he's being truthful," he said. "We just brought in [ Brian Thomas Jr. ]. A deep threat from LSU, had 17 touchdowns. I averaged 17 yards a catch.

"I had a lot of deep balls down the field, as well. I know they want that deep ball aspect more in their offense. Definitely when he says that, he means it."

Gabe Davis' career statistics

Regular season

Years	Games	Receptions	Yards	TDs
2020	16	35	599	7
2021	16	35	549	6
2022	15	48	836	7
2023	15	43	746	7

Postseason

Years	Games	Receptions	Yards	TDs
2020	3	4	85	0
2021	3	10	242	5
2022	2	9	147	1
2023*	0	0	0	0

* Injured and did not play in the postseason

Juston Lewis is a Jacksonville Jaguars beat reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on the website formerly known as Twitter at @JustonLewis_ .

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jaguars WR Gabe Davis brings leadership, experience to receiver room

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