SMU defensive tackle Pono Davis has built his name and game from ground zero. Now he's hoping one NFL team will give him a chance to grow even more.
A week before SMU's scheduled Pro Day, defensive tackle Pono Davis had 225 pounds on a weight bar and bench pressed it once. Then twice.
And then five times, then 10.
In roughly 30 seconds, Davis was up to 20 repetitions. Then he hit 25. By the time a full minute had passed, Davis had bench pressed the bar 30 times.
For a guy who measured at 6-2 and 298 pounds during the 2019 season, that's quite a feat.
Exactly how impressive? According to NFL.com, only 10 athletes bench pressed 225 pounds 30 times or more during this year's NFL Combine in Indianapolis. Of the 10, only two -- Michigan State's Kenny Willekes and Texas A&M's Justin Madubuike -- benched 225 more times than Davis. Willekes, at 264 pounds, had 32 reps. Madubuike, at 293 pounds, had 31 reps.
