SPORTS

'So exciting': WMU's Corey Davis a likely first-round pick

David Goricki
The Detroit News

Corey Davis decided to stay his senior season at Western Michigan, putting on extra muscle to put himself in position to become one of the top receivers taken in the 2016 NFL Draft.

Davis' decision paid off, helping the Broncos win the Mid-American Conference championship and an unbeaten regular season before a Cotton Bowl loss to Wisconsin.

Now, the 6-foot-3, 215-pound Davis is expected to be picked in the first round of tonight’s NFL Draft.

Davis will be in Philadelphia to experience the prime-time show. He took a trip to ESPN’s headquarters in Bristol earlier this week to help the cable network prepare for the coverage of the event.

“That’s why I stayed, to get bigger and stronger so I could put myself in position like this,” said Davis of putting on 15 pounds last spring to prepare for his senior year, then responding with 97 receptions for 1,500 yards and 19 TDs to become an All-American. “This is so exciting, working hard and then getting the chance to watch your dream come true to play in the NFL.”

Davis finished his WMU career with 332 receptions for 5,285 yards and 52 TDs.

So, who does Davis feel will pick him tonight?

“I’ve heard Tennessee, Philly, Cleveland, Baltimore and Arizona,” said Davis.

Western Michigan is expected to also have a player picked in the second round Friday in offensive lineman Taylor Moton who came to Kalamazoo as a 6-5, 275-pound dominant run blocker while playing on Okemos’ option attack and has now developed into a strong 6-5, 320-pound pass blocker as well as run blocker.

And, what makes Moton so valuable is his ability to play either tackle or guard. He started every game the last four years at WMU, starting at tackle his senior year after playing at guard as a junior.

Moton wanted to play at Michigan State. However, the Spartans never offered him a scholarship – Indiana was his lone Big Ten offer – so he decided to develop his talent with the Broncos while helping them go from 1-11 his freshman year to 13-1 as a senior when he was a voted first-team All-MAC performer.

“I've got to say that this is pretty exciting, and it would be a blessing to be picked in the second round,” said Moton.

Central Michigan quarterback Cooper Rush, WMU quarterback Zach Terrell, WMU defensive end Keion Adams and Eastern Michigan defensive end Pat O’Connor all had outstanding senior seasons and could be seventh round picks or undrafted free agents.

Other players who could be late draft picks for undrafted free agents include Wayne State guard Nate Theaker who was an American Football Coaches Association Division II first-team All-American and Saginaw Valley State safety Matt McKoy who was the GLIAC Defensive Back of the Year.

MAC, state players in the draft

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PlayerPos.Projection
Corey Davis, WesternWR1st round
Taylor Moton, Western2
Keion Adams, WesternOLB7-FA
Nate Theaker, Wayne St.7-FA
Cooper Rush, CentralQB7-FA
Zach Terrell, WesternQB7-FA
Pat O’Connor, EasternDE7-FA
Matt McKoy, Sag. ValleyS7-FA