Illini's Davis to enter NFL draft

Until Vontae Davis came along, Illinois hadn't produced a two-time all-Big Ten player since Simeon Rice and Kevin Hardy in the mid-1990s.

Rice and Hardy went on to long, lucrative NFL careers. Now Davis hopes to do that, too.

The junior cornerback from Washington announced Monday that he's making himself eligible for the 2009 NFL draft.

Davis piled up 206 tackles, 22 pass breakups, 7 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles and 2 blocked punts during his three years as a starter.

"Playing at the University of Illinois was real great because it helped me become a man," Davis said. "It's the right time for me to take on a new challenge."

Judging by the multitude of NFL draft Web sites, Davis figures to be snapped up in the middle of the first round. But he'd love to go in the top five picks.

That would enable him to beat his older brother, Vernon, who went sixth to the San Francisco 49ers in 2006.

"That is a goal," Vontae said. "That's just me and my brother messing around."

Davis hasn't selected an agent, nor has he decided where he'll work out in the four months leading up to the draft.

"Hopefully I spend as much time as possible with (my brother)," Vontae said. "Maybe we can train together so we can get better at the same time."