Marcus Davenport
No. 0 – Minnesota Vikings
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1996-09-04) September 4, 1996 (age 27)
San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
Height:6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Weight:265 lb (120 kg)
Career information
High school:John Paul Stevens
(San Antonio, Texas)
College:UTSA (2014–2017)
NFL draft:2018 / Round: 1 / Pick: 14
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Total tackles:149
Sacks:23.5
Forced fumbles:7
Fumble recoveries:1
Pass deflections:4
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Marcus Davenport (born September 4, 1996) is an American football linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at UTSA and was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

Early years

Davenport attended John Paul Stevens High School in San Antonio, Texas, where he played high school football.[1] Barely recruited out of high school, he chose to play college football at University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) over UNLV.[2] Davenport graduated from UTSA in 2017.[3]

College career

Davenport played at UTSA from 2014 to 2017.[4][5] As a senior in 2017, he was the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year after recording 55 tackles and 8.5 sacks.[6] During his career, he had 185 tackles and 21.5 sacks.[7]

Collegiate statistics

Season Team Conf Class Pos GP Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
Solo Ast Cmb TfL Sck Int Yds Avg TD PD FR Yds TD FF
2014 UTSA CUSA FR DE 8 5 9 14 2.5 2.5 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 — — 0
2015 UTSA CUSA SO DE 11 30 19 49 7.5 4.0 0 0 0.0 0 3 0 — — 2
2016 UTSA CUSA JR DE 13 30 37 67 10.0 6.5 0 0 0.0 0 1 1 — — 1
2017 UTSA CUSA SR DE 11 30 25 55 17.5 8.5 0 0 0.0 0 4 1 — 1 3
Career 43 95 90 185 37.5 21.5 0 0 0.0 0 8 2 — 1 6

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 5+3⁄4 in
(1.97 m) 		264 lb
(120 kg) 		33+5⁄8 in
(0.85 m) 		9+1⁄8 in
(0.23 m)		 4.58 s 1.62 s 2.67 s 4.41 s 7.20 s 33+1⁄2 in
(0.85 m)		 10 ft 4 in
(3.15 m)		 22 reps
All values from NFL Combine[8][9]

New Orleans Saints

Davenport was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the first round (14th overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft.[10] He was the second defensive end to be selected that year, behind only Bradley Chubb.[11] The pick used to select Davenport was acquired from the Green Bay Packers. On May 10, 2018, Davenport signed his rookie contract with the Saints,[12] worth $13.7 million.[13] On June 11, 2018, it was reported that Davenport injured his thumb and that it would require surgery.[14] In Week 3, against the Atlanta Falcons, Davenport recorded his first career sack in the victory.[15] In Week 8, against the Minnesota Vikings, he recorded a two-sack performance in the victory.[16]

In a Week 2 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams in 2019, Davenport sacked Jared Goff as the Saints lost 27–9.[17] In a Week 5 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Davenport sacked Jameis Winston twice in the 31–24 win.[18] In week 13 against the Falcons on Thanksgiving Day, Davenport sacked Matt Ryan twice, one of which was a strip sack that was recovered by teammate Vonn Bell, in the 26–18 win.[19] On December 11, 2019, Davenport was placed on injured reserve with a foot injury.[20] He finished the season with 31 tackles, six sacks, and three forced fumbles through 13 starts.[21]

In Week 7 against the Carolina Panthers in 2020, Davenport recorded his first sack of the season on former Saints' teammate Teddy Bridgewater during the 27–24 win.[22]

The Saints exercised the fifth-year option on Davenport's contract on April 29, 2021.[23] The option guarantees a salary of $9.5 million for the 2022 season.[24] He was placed on injured reserve on September 17, 2021, with a shoulder injury.[25] He was activated on October 25.[26]

On June 15, 2022, Davenport announced he had undergone five total offseason surgeries: two on his shoulder and three on his left hand. One of the hand surgeries was to address a pinkie finger issue that had plagued him since college and involved a partial amputation of the finger.[27]

Minnesota Vikings

On March 15, 2023, Davenport signed a one-year, $13 million contract with the Minnesota Vikings.[28] The team has listed Davenport as an outside linebacker.[29] He suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 6 and was placed on injured reserve on October 16, 2023.[30]

NFL career statistics

Regular season
Year Team Games Tackles
GP GS Cmb Solo Ast Sck
2018 NO 13 0 21 12 9 4.5
2019 NO 13 13 31 15 16 6.0
2020 NO 11 1 21 12 9 1.5
2021 NO 11 9 39 23 16 9
2022 NO 14 9 26 13 13 0.5
Total 62 32 139 75 64 21.5
Postseason
Year Team Games Tackles
GP GS Cmb Solo Ast Sck
2018 NO 2 0 4 3 1 0.0
2020 NO 2 1 4 3 1 0.0
Total 4 1 8 6 2 0.0

References

  1. ^ Erickson, Joel (February 26, 2018). "Small-school prospects like Dallas Goedert, Marcus Davenport looking to make big splash in draft". The Advocate. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  2. ^ Briggs, Jerry (February 5, 2014). "UTSA signee Marcus Davenport says, 'It's time to get to work'". My Sanantonio. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
  3. ^ "Marcus Davenport - 2016 - University of Texas at San Antonio". goutsa.com. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
  4. ^ Griffin, Tim (October 20, 2016). "Growing Davenport blossoming in role as UTSA's defensive leader". My Sanantonio. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
  5. ^ Trapasso, Chris (November 16, 2017). "2018 NFL Draft: UTSA pass rusher Marcus Davenport has enormous NFL potential". CBS Sports. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
  6. ^ Whisler, John (December 6, 2017). "Davenport chosen C-USA's Defensive Player of the Year". SF Gate. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
  7. ^ "Marcus Davenport College Stats". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  8. ^ "NFL Draft Prospect Profile - Marcus Davenport". nfl.com. March 1, 2018. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
  9. ^ "Texas-San Antonio DE Marcus Davenport : 2018 NFL Draft Scout Player Profile". NFLDraftScout.com. Retrieved May 12, 2018.
  10. ^ Sessler, Marc (April 26, 2018). "Saints trade up to No. 14 to draft Marcus Davenport". NFL.com. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  11. ^ "2018 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
  12. ^ "New Orleans Saints sign six draft picks". NewOrleansSaints.com. May 10, 2018. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
  13. ^ Martel, Brett (July 30, 2021). "Saints' Davenport emerges from offseason of introspection". AP News. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  14. ^ Patra, Kevin (June 11, 2018). "Saints DE Marcus Davenport to undergo thumb surgery". NFL.com. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
  15. ^ Sigler, John (September 23, 2018). "Marcus Davenport logs first career sack vs. Atlanta Falcons". Saints Wire. USA Today. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  16. ^ "Saints' Marcus Davenport: Two sacks in Week 8". CBSSports.com. October 29, 2018. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
  17. ^ "Brees injured, Rams beat Saints 27-9 in title game rematch". ESPN.com. Associated Press. September 15, 2019. Retrieved September 15, 2019.
  18. ^ "Bridgewater's breakout lifts Saints past Bucs 31-24". ESPN.com. Associated Press. October 6, 2019. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
  19. ^ "Saints beat Falcons to clinch third straight NFC South title". ESPN.com. Associated Press. November 28, 2019. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
  20. ^ Just, Amie (December 11, 2019). "Saints place Marcus Davenport, Sheldon Rankins on injured reserve". NOLA.com. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  21. ^ "Marcus Davenport 2019 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  22. ^ "Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints – October 25th, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  23. ^ "New Orleans Saints exercise fifth-year option on defensive end Marcus Davenport". NewOrleansSaints.com. April 29, 2021. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  24. ^ Salas, Alec (May 30, 2022). "5 Saints with the most pressure heading into 2022". Canal Street Chronicles. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  25. ^ Shook, Nick (September 17, 2021). "Saints place DE Marcus Davenport (shoulder), LB Kwon Alexander (elbow) on injured reserve". NFL.com. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  26. ^ Alper, Josh (October 25, 2021). "Saints activate Marcus Davenport, Kwon Alexander, Tre'Quan Smith for MNF". NBC Sports. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  27. ^ Levine, Ben (July 25, 2023). "Saints DE Marcus Davenport had five offseason surgeries, including partial finger amputation". Yardbarker. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  28. ^ Peters, Craig (March 15, 2023). "Vikings Agree to Terms with Oliver, Davenport & Murphy". Vikings.com. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
  29. ^ Goessling, Ben (March 16, 2023). "Vikings agree to terms with pass rusher Marcus Davenport as part of defensive overhaul". Star Tribune. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  30. ^ Young, Lindsey (October 18, 2023). "Vikings Place Davenport on IR; Activate Nwangwu to 53-Man Roster". Vikings.com.

External links

Minnesota Vikings roster
New Orleans Saints 2018 NFL draft selections
2018 NFL Draft first-round selections
New Orleans Saints first-round draft picks
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