The critics wasted no time picking apart Nate Davis' decision to forgo his senior season and enter this year's NFL Draft.
They lined our message board with comments sharing their displeasure. They made threads to vent their frustration on their Web site, bsufans.com. A local media member even wrote a column outlining why Davis should waste a senior season at Ball State instead of taking his talents to the next level.
Don't listen to them, Nate.
Your decision to declare for the 2009 NFL Draft wasn't only the right decision. It wasn't only the best decision.
Jumping to the NFL at this time was the only decision.
I'm not oblivious to where the criticism comes from. Fans are justifiably bitter about Davis' performance in his final two games as a Cardinal. They were the worst back-to-back starts of his career. And it's unfortunate those two games also came on two of the biggest stages of his career, playing in front of the ESPN cameras and eyes of college football fans nationwide.
There's no question Davis' six lost fumbles and two interceptions against Buffalo and Tulsa damaged his draft stock. No one is arguing those costly turnovers had little influence on Ball State's uncharacteristically anemic 18.5 points per game average in those two losses.
But Davis' image can easily be rehabbed with a strong showing in the NFL combine this April. With Davis' physical talents, we should expect nothing less.
College football is a no-excuse sport, but the fact Davis played both games at less than 100 percent shouldn't be disregarded.
Should Davis have overcome his flu against Buffalo and bruised throwing hand against Tulsa? Sure.
Is it inexcusable he didn't? No.
I'm confident Davis will eventually be selected in the first day of the NFL Draft. We don't know what the evaluation from the NFL Draft advisory committee said, but I'm sure he and his older brother - former Kent State quarterback Jose Davis - gathered enough information to give them the same conclusion.
Ball State coach Stan Parrish said Tuesday he offered Davis advice on what he should do, but left the final decision up to him and his family. Parrish declined to say what specific advice he gave, but he said the decision was based on what was best for Davis and his family.
Taking the guaranteed money the NFL Draft provides is in Davis' best interest.
The optimal time to enter a professional draft is always when an athlete's stock is at its highest level. College athletes want to get the most value out of their talent. It's a risk for Davis to exhaust his college eligibility. A year from now, it is unlikely Davis' draft stock will be higher than it is right now.
With the loss of senior receiver Louis Johnson, the Cardinals will be stuck with slow receivers next season. Briggs Orsbon, Daniel Ifft and Myles Trempe are solid possession receivers, but they're not exactly speed burners. More importantly, Ball State lost four senior starters from its offensive line.
Playing in college next season also risks the chance Davis could suffer a career-threatening injury. Ask Dante Love how quickly one play can change an athlete's future.
Not surprisingly, Parrish summed this decision up best. The coach referred the time he spent with Davis on the recruiting trail. He remembered Jose Davis didn't want his younger brother to be a Cardinal. Jose Davis preferred a place with a winning tradition.
Davis holds his older brother's opinion in high regard but decided to follow his heart to Muncie.
"Nobody in his family ever thought he would come to Ball State," Parrish said. "He said, 'I had a gut feeling, and I followed my gut.' I think he did the same thing here."
There is no doubt Davis made the right decision to follow his gut instinct and become a Cardinal.
Following his heart to the NFL now is the only decision he could have made.
Write to Ryan at rtwood@bsu.edu
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