Ex-MSU coaches hampered Davis' draft stock

Michigan State's previous staff may have had a role in hurting Kellen Davis' image with NFL execs. Michigan State's current staff may have helped rehabilitate that image.

The end result? Davis fell to the fifth round Sunday, where the Chicago Bears may have picked up a steal with the 158th overall selection. The Bears then grabbed former MSU defensive end Ervin Baldwin with the first pick of the seventh round, No. 208 overall.

Davis and Baldwin joined receiver Devin Thomas to give MSU three drafted players this year. Thomas went Saturday in the second round, No. 34 overall, to the Washington Redskins.

Several of their former teammates were making or considering free agent deals Sunday night. Safety Travis Key signed with the Minnesota Vikings; defensive tackle Ogemdi Nwagbuo signed with the New York Giants; and offensive tackle Pete Clifford agreed to a deal with the Arizona Cardinals.

Davis, a tight end, was hoping to go in the second or third round. But he believes an off-campus fight his junior season - resulting in assault charges and probation - scared off some teams.

He and the Bears also mentioned that former MSU coach John L. Smith and his staff had some negative things to say about Davis.

Bears scouting director Greg Gabriel said Sunday at a news conference, "I know the old staff was banging him a little bit" when NFL personnel people asked about Davis.

"I really don't know, man, I couldn't tell you," Davis said when asked why his former coaches would be critical. "I've been hearing that since I went to the Senior Bowl. I don't know what their problem is. From what I heard, it was pretty much a conglomeration of all of them, from the top down.

"They were saying I don't work hard, I'm an underachiever, blah, blah, blah."

Davis said he never had any run-ins with Smith or his coaches, but that he was much closer in one year to current coach Mark Dantonio and his staff.

"I don't think anybody was really close to John L. and his staff, that's just the way they worked and stuff," Davis said.

Dantonio's offensive line coach, Dan Roushar, previously was an assistant for Ron Turner when Turner coached Illinois. Turner is now the Bears' offensive coordinator, and he said Roushar "endorsed Davis very strongly."

Roushar also spoke with Bears offensive line coach Harry Heistand and, according to Gabriel, told him: "I don't know why (the old staff) didn't like (Davis). This guy is a heck of a football player. He does everything I ask of him."

So is it possible Davis' work ethic took a leap during his senior year under the new staff?

"Not really," Davis said. "I've been doing the same stuff, I just got better coaches as a senior."

As for the assault situation, Gabriel and Turner downplayed its significance and said they're satisfied that it was a one-time incident and that Davis has good character. Davis is now off probation.

"He's an athlete," Gabriel said of Davis. "He has a lot of upside. We need a third tight end. He's a big guy. He has (displayed) better blocking over the years. So, we're taking a chance."

Not long after the Bears chose Davis, they drafted Baldwin.

"It's gonna be great going with somebody I know and somebody who will experience the same things at the same time," Baldwin said of playing with Davis in Chicago.

Although Baldwin did not receive as much publicity as fellow end Jonal Saint-Dic last season, MSU coaches said more than once that Baldwin was the more complete player.

Most mock drafts did not project Baldwin to be drafted, but he was confident it would happen.

"I think I was overlooked a little bit," he said. "I really think I should have gone earlier. I'll be playing with a chip on my shoulder next year. It's no knock on the (defensive ends) who went before me, but I think I'm better than them."

Motivation, it seems, will be in abundant supply for both former Spartans as they head off to Chicago.

Contact Joe Rexrode at jrexrode@lsj.com.