Taj Davis and Huskies to Hold Reunion on Saturday Night
Taj Davis could catch 10 passes this weekend at Husky Stadium, when his new team plays his old team, and University of Washington fans won't boo him. At least they shouldn't.
He could haul in the game-winning touchdown throw against the Huskies on Saturday night and, while sorely disappointed, even the most rapid Montlake followers won't necessarily treat him like an interloper.
That's because Davis, who now lines up on the outside flank for the California Bears, 10 months ago came up with one of the most iconic grabs in UW football history when his late-game heroics enabled the Huskies to pull off an incredibly hard-fought victory at Oregon.
In Autzen Stadium.
In a shootout.
Inside the final four minutes.
Most people would agree, Davis forever gets something of a walk for that glorious moment in time, a free pass, a round of beers at his favorite University Ave. establishment whenever he's in town.
"First of all, Taj Davis is a great kid, he's a special kid," UW offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb said on Monday. "I'll never forget the play he made at Oregon. It was phenomenal and that's how all I'll remember him."
Last November in Eugene, Davis slipped into the clear on the far left sideline, patiently waited for a 62-yard moonshot from Michael Penix Jr. to settle into his arms and outraced a hapless Ducks defensive back to the end zone to tie the game with 3:07 remaining and put the UW in position to eventually kick a late field goal to pull out a 37-34 victory.
Taj Davis heads for the end zone at Oregon to complete his 62-yard touchdown catch.
Troy Wayrynen/USA TODAY Sports
Davis now plays for the Bears after leaving the Huskies following the conclusion of spring football practice in April as the most prominent player to exit last year's 11-2 team and enter the transfer portal.
Curiously, the last time Cal came to town in 2021, Davis caught a 19-yard scoring pass from Dylan Morris in the Huskies' 31-24 overtime victory. Now he'll try to put one on the board against Morris and the rest of the guys on Saturday night.
He departed Montlake not because he was disgruntled or unhappy, only to seek out a place where he could better showcase his receiving talents — and that just wasn't going to happen at the UW with all three starters returning from last season in Rome Odunze, Jalen McMillan and Ja'Lynn Polk.
"He was looking for an opportunity to be somewhere where he could be the 'one' and didn't feel exactly like that was going to happen here," Grubb said. "We didn't want to lose him. We loved Taj and wish he was still here."
Whereas the Huskies once had two Davises playing prominent roles, both hailing from the same Southern California high school yet unrelated, they have none entering this Cal game. Running back Cam Davis, of course, suffered a season-ending knee injury in the final fall scrimmage and will watch this one from the stands.
Taj Davis, who caught 47 passes for 606 yards and 4 touchdowns as a part-time starter at the UW over two seasons, is a full-time starter for the Bears. He's tied for second on the team with two others in receiving, with 8 catches for 81 yards and a touchdown — 2 receptions behind the leader, Jeremiah Hunter.
Davis' decision to leave the UW no question was difficult for him, but he parted on good terms with the coaches and his teammates.
"He kind of let us know so we wouldn't be surprised," Polk said. "We kind of had a feeling it was going to come sooner or later. We still love him. That's our brother. He had to do what's best for him."
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