Auburn’s fastest man preparing for first start

AUBURN | Javaris Davis knows it’s coming.

The redshirt freshman is on track to start his first career game at cornerback opposite returning starter Carlton Davis for the opener against No. 2 Clemson on Sept. 3.

He expects to be tested early and often.

“I do, but I think I’m going to be ready,” Javaris Davis said. “I have to just take advantage of my opportunity and just do what the coaches ask and try to do my job.”

Davis, who was a do-it-all performer during his high school career at Ed White in Jacksonville, Fla., redshirted last season has he concentrated on playing corner.

While working on the scout team and going through extra redshirt workouts was difficult, it’s made Davis a better player.

“It was a very humbling experience,” Davis said. “It really helped me mature more and got me better, bigger and stronger.”

Gus Malzahn has certainly seen the improvement from Davis this fall.

“His confidence level,” said Malzahn of what stands out about Davis. “He was extremely talented, even last year when we redshirted him. He had a great spring. He's more confident. And he can really run. He's super fast, probably our fastest.”

It’s not just Auburn’s head coach that has been impressed with Davis this fall.

“He nags you a lot. He can run. He can give you a little extra at the line because he knows he can run with you,” senior wide receiver Marcus Davis said. “It's always good to go against him because he's a competitive guy. He's always around the ball.”

Davis said he can run a 4.18 40-yard dash, which would make him one of the fastest men in history. Even if that’s a stretch, his teammates have already pegged him as Auburn’s fastest man.

That speed should be very helpful as he prepares for his first college game.

“That helps me a lot because I can do different things with my technique. I know that sometimes if I mess up I can recover with my speed,” Davis said.