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Rashard Davis Signs Contract with Philadelphia Eagles
8/16/2017 3:30:00 PM | Football
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Former James Madison All-American Rashard Davis has signed a free-agent contract with the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League, the franchise announced on Sunday.
Davis was signed after a successful work out with the team in what was his third try out for a NFL team this summer. He previously worked out with the Chicago Bears and New York Jets.
"At first, they said they wanted me to come work out, and I'd done two before that I thought went well but it didn't go my way," Davis said. "I flew up there the next morning and there were a lot of people at the work out, so I told myself that I have an opportunity and what was I going to do with it."
The call from Philadelphia wasn't expected by Davis and happened to come while he was in the middle of his shift while working at ROCKSALT in Charlottesville.
"It came out of left field. I didn't expect it because I hadn't talked to Philly at all," Davis said. "I was at work when they called. I was waiting tables at ROCKSALT and I was like 'what in the world!'
Davis becomes JMU's ninth former player who is currently signed to a NFL team, and he joins former Duke John DeFilippo, the Eagles quarterbacks coach, in the City of Brotherly Love.
Davis is expected to see playing time both at receiver and on special teams when the Eagles host the Buffalo Bills Thursday night at Lincoln Financial Field.
"I'm just taking it one day at a time, one play at a time, "Davis said. I'm trying to learn as quickly as I can and as much as I can. It doesn't matter the amount plays I get in but what does matter is what I do with those plays, so I have to seize the opportunity."
The Charlottesville, Va., native was a First Team All-American after leading the country and setting both the JMU and conference record with four punt returns for a touchdown.
The Colonial Athletic Association Special Teams Player of the Year had 15 returns for a JMU single-season record 426 yards and four scores while also tallying 42 receptions for 530 yards and three touchdowns.
Dukes Currently in the NFL by Team
Carolina Panthers – Dean Marlowe (S)
Chicago Bears – Daniel Brown (TE), Mitchell Kirsch (OL)
Green Bay Packers – Derek Hart (LS)
Jacksonville Jaguars – Earl Watford (OL), Josh Wells (OL)
New York Giants – Khalid Abdullah (RB)
Philadelphia Eagles – Rashard Davis (WR/PR), John DeFilippo (QB Coach)
Pittsburgh Steelers – Arthur Moats (LB)
Davis was signed after a successful work out with the team in what was his third try out for a NFL team this summer. He previously worked out with the Chicago Bears and New York Jets.
"At first, they said they wanted me to come work out, and I'd done two before that I thought went well but it didn't go my way," Davis said. "I flew up there the next morning and there were a lot of people at the work out, so I told myself that I have an opportunity and what was I going to do with it."
The call from Philadelphia wasn't expected by Davis and happened to come while he was in the middle of his shift while working at ROCKSALT in Charlottesville.
"It came out of left field. I didn't expect it because I hadn't talked to Philly at all," Davis said. "I was at work when they called. I was waiting tables at ROCKSALT and I was like 'what in the world!'
Davis becomes JMU's ninth former player who is currently signed to a NFL team, and he joins former Duke John DeFilippo, the Eagles quarterbacks coach, in the City of Brotherly Love.
Davis is expected to see playing time both at receiver and on special teams when the Eagles host the Buffalo Bills Thursday night at Lincoln Financial Field.
"I'm just taking it one day at a time, one play at a time, "Davis said. I'm trying to learn as quickly as I can and as much as I can. It doesn't matter the amount plays I get in but what does matter is what I do with those plays, so I have to seize the opportunity."
The Charlottesville, Va., native was a First Team All-American after leading the country and setting both the JMU and conference record with four punt returns for a touchdown.
The Colonial Athletic Association Special Teams Player of the Year had 15 returns for a JMU single-season record 426 yards and four scores while also tallying 42 receptions for 530 yards and three touchdowns.
Dukes Currently in the NFL by Team
Carolina Panthers – Dean Marlowe (S)
Chicago Bears – Daniel Brown (TE), Mitchell Kirsch (OL)
Green Bay Packers – Derek Hart (LS)
Jacksonville Jaguars – Earl Watford (OL), Josh Wells (OL)
New York Giants – Khalid Abdullah (RB)
Philadelphia Eagles – Rashard Davis (WR/PR), John DeFilippo (QB Coach)
Pittsburgh Steelers – Arthur Moats (LB)
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