SPIKE DAVIS: Leading the Hunt
Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2012 2:55 pm
Leading the Hunt
Senior defensive end Margus Hunt is the most famous blocker of kicks in SMU history, and since he took the Mustangs’ special teams by storm as a freshman three years ago, Hunt often was quick to share the credit for his blocks with the guys who did the dirty work on the line of scrimmage, clearing space so that Hunt could get a forward push and throw a hand up in hopes of ruining an opposing kick.
That role previously was filled by defensive end Taylor Thompson, but Thompson is now running pass routes as a tight end in the Tennessee Titans’ camp. So if Hunt is going to make a run at the all-time NCAA record for blocker kicks — Hunt has 14 in his career, the third-highest total in NCAA history and five shy of tying the all-time national mark of 19, held by James Ferebee of New Mexico State — he is going to need a suitable replacement for Thompson.
The job is thankless, to say the least. It requires someone with enormous strength and lower-body power who is willing to wage war with the big blockers the other team rolls out to protect its kicker, sometimes relying on pure power, and other times using quickness and fakes to open lanes.
This year, the job will go to senior nose tackle Aaron “Spike” Davis, and at first glance, he appears to be a perfect fit. As an interior defensive lineman, he is used to the hand-to-hand combat that takes place at the line of scrimmage. A renowned workout fanatic, the former linebacker now carries a solid 282 pounds on his 6-foot-3-inch frame, and says he hopes to play this season between 285 and 290 pounds. He generates ample power from his lower-body strength — he squats more than any of the defensive linemen — and he bench presses more than 400 pounds. Not surprisingly, he said he is looking forward to the job, despite the glaring lack of .
“It’s really one of the toughest positions on the team,” Davis said. “You don’t get a lot of credit playing the position, but it’s still fun to get in to all the physical stuff in there.”
Davis is smaller than many interior linemen, but said that for his role on the kick blocking team, size isn’t the most important attribute.
“You’ve got to be able to get off the ball fast and have a really good punch to create some separation in there,” Davis said. “When you have a guy like Margus, who’s so good at blocking kicks, he’ll get a lot of opportunities if I do my job right.”
Davis said the task of being a lead blocker for Hunt is made more tolerable by the fact that Hunt is quick to share the credit for his accomplishments.
“He’s a pretty humble guy,” Davis said of Hunt. “When he gets a block, it comes up in film why he was able to get in there, and he appreciated Taylor for doing his job, so I know he’ll do the same for me.”
Senior defensive end Margus Hunt is the most famous blocker of kicks in SMU history, and since he took the Mustangs’ special teams by storm as a freshman three years ago, Hunt often was quick to share the credit for his blocks with the guys who did the dirty work on the line of scrimmage, clearing space so that Hunt could get a forward push and throw a hand up in hopes of ruining an opposing kick.
That role previously was filled by defensive end Taylor Thompson, but Thompson is now running pass routes as a tight end in the Tennessee Titans’ camp. So if Hunt is going to make a run at the all-time NCAA record for blocker kicks — Hunt has 14 in his career, the third-highest total in NCAA history and five shy of tying the all-time national mark of 19, held by James Ferebee of New Mexico State — he is going to need a suitable replacement for Thompson.
The job is thankless, to say the least. It requires someone with enormous strength and lower-body power who is willing to wage war with the big blockers the other team rolls out to protect its kicker, sometimes relying on pure power, and other times using quickness and fakes to open lanes.
This year, the job will go to senior nose tackle Aaron “Spike” Davis, and at first glance, he appears to be a perfect fit. As an interior defensive lineman, he is used to the hand-to-hand combat that takes place at the line of scrimmage. A renowned workout fanatic, the former linebacker now carries a solid 282 pounds on his 6-foot-3-inch frame, and says he hopes to play this season between 285 and 290 pounds. He generates ample power from his lower-body strength — he squats more than any of the defensive linemen — and he bench presses more than 400 pounds. Not surprisingly, he said he is looking forward to the job, despite the glaring lack of .
“It’s really one of the toughest positions on the team,” Davis said. “You don’t get a lot of credit playing the position, but it’s still fun to get in to all the physical stuff in there.”
Davis is smaller than many interior linemen, but said that for his role on the kick blocking team, size isn’t the most important attribute.
“You’ve got to be able to get off the ball fast and have a really good punch to create some separation in there,” Davis said. “When you have a guy like Margus, who’s so good at blocking kicks, he’ll get a lot of opportunities if I do my job right.”
Davis said the task of being a lead blocker for Hunt is made more tolerable by the fact that Hunt is quick to share the credit for his accomplishments.
“He’s a pretty humble guy,” Davis said of Hunt. “When he gets a block, it comes up in film why he was able to get in there, and he appreciated Taylor for doing his job, so I know he’ll do the same for me.”
