Click-and-close ability. A scouting term defined by Big Blue View in the following manner:
“Click-and-close is when a defensive player — typically in coverage — reads the flow of action and attacks downhill aggressively to disrupt the offense’s play. Executing the click-and-close well combines quick processing speed, timing, a change of direction, and the ability to accelerate from a stagnant position.”
This is a nice summation of what fans see in the secondary on Sundays, but is particularly relevant
when discussing the Commanders’ undrafted free agent Fred Davis II.
Davis is a 6-foot, 190-pound cornerback and sixth-year senior out of Northwestern. The six years would indicate that Davis had a well-traveled college background, and that holds true. After seeing rotational duty at Clemson for three seasons, Fred transferred to UCF, where he saw 5 snaps of game action. He entered the transfer portal again and joined Jacksonville State before finishing his career at Northwestern, where he saw significantly more playing time.
| Tackles | Def Interceptions | Fumbles | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Solo | Ast | Comb | TFL | Sk | Int | Yds | IntTD | PD | FR | Yds | FRTD | FF | Awards |
| 2020* | Clemson | ACC | FR | CB | 10 | 10 | 3 | 13 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2021* | Clemson | ACC | SO | CB | 9 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2022* | Clemson | ACC | JR | CB | 7 | 10 | 5 | 15 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | -2 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2023* | UCF | Big 12 | SR | CB | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2024* | Jacksonville State | CUSA | SR | CB | 14 | 10 | 8 | 18 | 3.5 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2025* | Northwestern | Big Ten | SR | CB | 12 | 24 | 8 | 32 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Career | 54 | 56 | 28 | 84 | 6.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 2 | -2 | 0 | 0 | |||||
| Clemson (3 Yrs) | 26 | 22 | 12 | 34 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | -2 | 0 | 0 | |||||
| Jacksonville State (1 Yr) | 14 | 10 | 8 | 18 | 3.5 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
| Northwestern (1 Yr) | 12 | 24 | 8 | 32 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
| UCF (1 Yr) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||
The most noticeable thing about Davis’ statistics is the complete lack of turnovers, with zero interceptions and forced fumbles over a six-year span. In fact, his first interception in college was at the Senior Bowl.
In addition to his lack of production, Fred did not test well at his Pro Day. He has decent length and size, but the rest of his numbers are pedestrian with the glaring exception of a very poor speed grade due to a 4.64 forty-yard dash.
This is where Davis’ ability to click-and-close saves him. His draft profile from NFL Draft Buzz lists it along with several attributes Daronte Jones might find appealing.
- Fluid mover with decent speed and his length allows him to cover effectively downfield.
- Davis has good size and is a fluid mover, capable of mirroring underneath.
- Very good in run support, an aggressive tackler, and capable of breaking down and securing tackles in space.
- Great at route recognition and has click-and-close ability.
The ability to process and accelerate quickly, coupled with his tacking ability, gives Fred a chance to make up for his lack of long speed. He is also scheme versatile, able to play man or off-coverage and cover the slot. You can see his traits in action in this highlight reel.
In August of 2021, Davis was charged with reckless driving after an accident with a mail vehicle in which he was reportedly driving approximately 115 mph in a 55 mph zone. Multiple stops in college often indicate a player had trouble finding a program that was the right fit. In an interview with NUSports.com, Davis allowed that he had not always approached the game with a professional attitude before attending Northwestern.
“I changed my whole routine when I got here. Before, I was just basically playing off athleticism, not really preparing. I came here, and they put me on a routine. I’m coming in at 6 a.m., stretching out, taking care of my body, and doing the little things.”
Reading between the lines, there were some early maturity issues for the cornerback before things clicked in his final season. Today, Davis seems grateful for the opportunity to join the Washington Commanders and is ready to prove he belongs with the team.
Normally, I wouldn’t give a player with Davis’ athletic testing and lack of college production a chance of making the team, or even the practice squad, but the Commanders’ current roster is thin at the cornerback position. Davis was also a high-priority signing for Adam Peters, with the Commanders reportedly locking him up right after the draft. There will be plenty of competition in camp, and while the addition of Antonio Hamilton does not move the needle very much, another free agent acquisition could significantly hurt Davis’ chances.
Still, given the need at the position and proposed fit, it is possible Fred Davis II could win a practice squad spot with a strong camp and preseason.
