Davone Bess
Encyclopedia
Davone Atrayo Bess is an American football
wide receiver
for the Miami Dolphins
of the National Football League
. He was originally signed by the Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football
at Hawaii
.
in Oakland, California and was a student and a letter-man in football, basketball, and baseball. In football, he was a first team All-City wide receiver as a junior. As a senior, he led his team to the League Championship and was a second team All-City quarterback. Davone Bess graduated from Skyline High School in 2003.
Bess grew up five minutes away from the Oakland Coliseum as an avid Oakland Raiders
fan and even played a high school playoff game for Skyline High during his senior year at the Coliseum. His favorite player was Tim Brown.
Bess has stated that "sports pretty much kept me busy, kept me out of trouble, kept me off the streets." Largely raised by a single mom, Bess was the first person in his family to attend college and the first on his father's side to attend high school. Bess said of his father: "My dad pretty much wasn't there. If anyone was there it was my brother's dad, but not really because he was a big time drug dealer. He was in and out of jail himself and going back and forth so he wasn't a reliable source." At the age of 10, Bess witnessed the murder of his uncle at a birthday party.
to Oregon State when he was sentenced to about 21 months in Byron boys ranch juvenile facility
after allowing a friend to put stolen items in his car. During his time in the juvenile facility, Bess played in a seven man flag football team created by the facility. His high school coach contacted a former player who was a Graduate Assistant at the University of Hawaii and passed on video of Bess to coach June Jones who then gave Bess an opportunity.
in 2005 and quickly gained a starting spot at wide receiver.
As a freshman, Bess caught 89 passes for 1,124 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns. Selected WAC first team and WAC Freshman of the Year.
As a sophomore, caught 96 passes for 1,220 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns. Named WAC first team.
In his junior year, he finished with 108 catches for 1266 yards with 12 TDs.
During his time at Hawaii, Bess was named to the Associated Press' 2007 All-America third team; the Sporting News, Football Writers Association of America, and Rivals.com's 2005 Freshman All-American team; and was named to the All-WAC first team in 2005, 2006, and 2007.
active roster during the 2008 NFL season. He managed to catch his first NFL touchdown in Week 7 against the Baltimore Ravens
. He worked primarily as a slot receiver until starter Greg Camarillo
was injured. Bess assumed starting duties beginning in week 13 against the St. Louis Rams
, and became a reliable target for quarterback Chad Pennington
.
Bess finished the regular season third among NFL rookies in receptions (54) behind two second-rounders—Denver's Eddie Royal
(91) and Philadelphia's DeSean Jackson
(62). His 54 season receptions is the second most in NFL history for an undrafted rookie (behind only Wayne Chrebet
, who had 66 catches in 1995).
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
for the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was originally signed by the Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Hawaii
Hawaii Warriors football
The Hawaii Warriors football team represents the University of Hawaii at Mānoa in NCAA Division I FBS college football. The team, which is currently coached by Greg McMackin, is part of the Western Athletic Conference until 2012, when the team joins the Mountain West Conference.The Hawaii Warriors...
.
Early years
Bess attended Skyline High SchoolSkyline High School (Oakland, California)
Skyline High School is a public high school in Oakland, California. It is noted for its strong academics and athletic programs, and consistently ranks as the top performing school in the area in terms of standardized testing, SAT scores, college acceptance rates, and matriculation...
in Oakland, California and was a student and a letter-man in football, basketball, and baseball. In football, he was a first team All-City wide receiver as a junior. As a senior, he led his team to the League Championship and was a second team All-City quarterback. Davone Bess graduated from Skyline High School in 2003.
Bess grew up five minutes away from the Oakland Coliseum as an avid Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
fan and even played a high school playoff game for Skyline High during his senior year at the Coliseum. His favorite player was Tim Brown.
Bess has stated that "sports pretty much kept me busy, kept me out of trouble, kept me off the streets." Largely raised by a single mom, Bess was the first person in his family to attend college and the first on his father's side to attend high school. Bess said of his father: "My dad pretty much wasn't there. If anyone was there it was my brother's dad, but not really because he was a big time drug dealer. He was in and out of jail himself and going back and forth so he wasn't a reliable source." At the age of 10, Bess witnessed the murder of his uncle at a birthday party.
Oregon State University
Bess lost his scholarshipAthletic scholarship
An athletic scholarship is a form of scholarship to attend a college or university awarded to an individual based predominantly on his or her ability to play in a sport...
to Oregon State when he was sentenced to about 21 months in Byron boys ranch juvenile facility
Youth detention center
A youth detention center, also known as a juvenile detention center , juvenile hall or, more colloquially as juvie, is a secure residential facility for young people, often termed juvenile delinquents, awaiting court hearings and/or placement in long-term care facilities and programs...
after allowing a friend to put stolen items in his car. During his time in the juvenile facility, Bess played in a seven man flag football team created by the facility. His high school coach contacted a former player who was a Graduate Assistant at the University of Hawaii and passed on video of Bess to coach June Jones who then gave Bess an opportunity.
University of Hawaii
Davone Bess joined HawaiiHawaii Warriors football
The Hawaii Warriors football team represents the University of Hawaii at Mānoa in NCAA Division I FBS college football. The team, which is currently coached by Greg McMackin, is part of the Western Athletic Conference until 2012, when the team joins the Mountain West Conference.The Hawaii Warriors...
in 2005 and quickly gained a starting spot at wide receiver.
As a freshman, Bess caught 89 passes for 1,124 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns. Selected WAC first team and WAC Freshman of the Year.
As a sophomore, caught 96 passes for 1,220 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns. Named WAC first team.
In his junior year, he finished with 108 catches for 1266 yards with 12 TDs.
During his time at Hawaii, Bess was named to the Associated Press' 2007 All-America third team; the Sporting News, Football Writers Association of America, and Rivals.com's 2005 Freshman All-American team; and was named to the All-WAC first team in 2005, 2006, and 2007.
Miami Dolphins
Despite going undrafted, Bess earned a spot on the Miami DolphinsMiami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
active roster during the 2008 NFL season. He managed to catch his first NFL touchdown in Week 7 against the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
. He worked primarily as a slot receiver until starter Greg Camarillo
Greg Camarillo
Greg Camarillo is an American football wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League.He played college football at Stanford. He was signed by the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2005....
was injured. Bess assumed starting duties beginning in week 13 against the St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
, and became a reliable target for quarterback Chad Pennington
Chad Pennington
James Chadwick "Chad" Pennington is an American football quarterback who played in the National Football League for ten years. He is currently a football analyst with FOX Sports though he plans to return to playing after recovering from an injury...
.
Bess finished the regular season third among NFL rookies in receptions (54) behind two second-rounders—Denver's Eddie Royal
Eddie Royal
William Edward "Eddie" Royal is an American football wide receiver and return specialist for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League...
(91) and Philadelphia's DeSean Jackson
DeSean Jackson
Going to the 2008 NFL Draft Jackson was considered one of the top ten wide receivers available in a draft class littered with talented wide outs. The only knock on Jackson was his small frame, being measured at 5'9¾ " and just over 170 pounds. During the pre-draft period, Hall of Fame wide receiver...
(62). His 54 season receptions is the second most in NFL history for an undrafted rookie (behind only Wayne Chrebet
Wayne Chrebet
Wayne Chrebet is a former football player who played 11 seasons as a wide receiver for the New York Jets of the NFL from 1995 to 2005.- High school and college career :...
, who had 66 catches in 1995).