Javaris Davis wasn't well-known coming into 2016.

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Still, the redshirt freshman cornerback's first season — one punctuated with a huge game in Tusclaoosa — wasn't a surprise to the Tigers' players. Several defensive players consider Davis the team's fastest guy and knew his thirst for unforgiving contact could launch him into the spotlight.

They were right.

Auburn fans longing for more brute force in the secondary found a new darling in this Jacksonville, Fla., native, who finished the season with 37 tackles including six for loss, two interceptions and seven pass break-ups. Yet the numbers weren't the real reason Davis was named to the All-SEC Freshman Team; his rugged, spirited style left a mark on opponents and played an important role in Kevin Steele's push toward heightened aggression throughout the defense.