Former Fresno State DT Tyeler Davison has plenty of upside

Ask former Fresno State nose tackle Tyeler Davison what the most important quality in a lineman is and his answer is short and sweet.

"Toughness," he quipped.

Press for a follow-up, and Davison expounds with the same type of ferocity he plays with on the field.

"You're going up against offensive linemen who are just as big as you, but you have to be more athletic," said Davison, who is 6-foot-2 and 312 pounds, and has been projected as an early to mid-round pick in next week's NFL Draft. "You're going against two of them sometimes. When they stop blocking, you have to go run and chase after somebody.

"As a defensive lineman, you have to do way more than them, play in and play out. It takes a lot of toughness. You have to be in shape and be technical, athletic and tenacious. You have to really want to make a play happen."

For three years, Davison, who earned all Mountain West Conference honors every season, was determined to master his on-field production. The powerful run-clogger had a stat-sheet packed season last year. Davison finished his senior season with 61 tackles (13 tackles for loss) and 8.5 sacks, while forcing two fumbles.

"He wanted to be the best," Fresno State defensive line coach Pete Germano told FOXSports.com. "He never took a practice or a game off. That kid battled through so much and never missed a game. He has that special gift of trying to be the best that he could be whether it was practice or whatever."

Hobbled by a bad ankle sprain for a few weeks, Davison played 80 percent of Fresno State's defensive snaps last season. Further, he played 40 straight games after becoming a starter.

"He's probably the best lane-clogger in this draft," one NFC scout said. "NFL linebackers will benefit from the way he eats up blocks and keeps them clean. He's a true tough-guy.

"They didn't ask him to rush the passer much and he still had eight sacks. He's got quickness off the snap to get an edge, and the strength and power to beat his man and get to the QB."

Toughness is a characteristic that was developed at a young age, but sharpened at Deseret Mountain High School (Scottsdale, Az.).

Davison, an Arizona heavyweight champion wrestler, remembers weighing 280 pounds and waking up at 6 a.m. in the January freeze to run 200-yard sprints to shed the last couple pounds.

"If you want to win bad enough, you'll do it," Davison said. "And that's what I did. Wrestling teaches you how to practice and be mentally tough."

Other variables, of course, translate over from the wrestling mat to the football field.

"Body control and balance," said Germano, when asked of the most important qualities in a defensive lineman. "And [Tyeler] had it. Being a former wrestler he had complete control. He played at 315 pounds, but he moved like he was 280. He was such a good wrestler; he was so flexible and had good balance, that he could control his body. He was never on the ground. He could bend his knees and contort himself. On top of that he has great strength and power. He's made out of iron."

Despite carrying so much weight, Germano says that Davison can control his body in short, confined, small spaces. Playing with a low center of gravity, Davison was able to be stout against the run game and push the pocket during pass plays.

"He tackles like a wrestler, hog tying guys and slamming them to the ground," an AFC scout said. "Tackles like that make a difference as the game goes on, and ultimately cause fumbles."

Davison's measurements during the NFL Combine displayed his lower-body explosion, quick change of direction and upper-body power, finishing in the top-five in the vertical jump, 20-yard shuttle and bench press.

While not generating a lot of national recognition during the draft process, Davison has been a popular player among teams. Davison visited with the New Orleans Saints and Arizona Cardinals, a source told FOXSports.com. Davison has also worked out for the Houston Texans and Miami Dolphins.

"He's the best player I've ever coached, granted I've only coached small college ball," Germano said. "I didn't coach at USC, UCLA or Ohio State, but he's the best player I've ever coached in terms of the want and need to get better. How hard he practiced and played in games and how he was on the sideline.

"He's the best I've ever coached."