College coaches talk up Dolphins' rookie Bess

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http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/football/pro/dolphins/sfl-flspdol03sbmay04,0,3332436.story

College coaches talk up Dolphins' rookie Bess

By Harvey Fialkov
South Florida Sun-Sentinel

May 4, 2008

DAVIE - When you witness an uncle's murder at age 10, and get sentenced to a 15-month term in a juvenile delinquent facility at 17, making the 53-man roster of the Dolphins as an undrafted college free agent doesn't seem so daunting.

Just 22, former Hawaii receiver Davone Bess has been through a lot growing up in East Oakland, Calif., but the 5-foot-9, 190-pounder with shoulder-length dreadlocks has come a long way on and off the field.

"I could've easily got caught up in the streets instead of staying focused and doing sports to get out of it," said Bess, seemingly the most sure-handed of five signed college free-agent receivers participating in this weekend's rookie minicamp. "But my mom [Chinell Carpenter], who had me at 15, kept me and my little brother busy with sports.

"I watched my uncle [Clark Robinson] get killed right in front of me at a block party for his birthday. Some guy jumped the fence and shot him on my auntie's porch.

"I knew life isn't promised to anybody and that it and football can be taken away at any time."

Bess' scholarship to Oregon State and his freedom were taken away after he was arrested for driving a car with stolen goods a few days after graduating from Skyline High in Oakland.

Bess insists he had no idea what his friends were up to until they started loading DVDs, laptops and Playstations into the car.

"The judge said she wanted to make me an example," said Bess, who wouldn't incriminate his friends. "I learned not to associate with certain individuals. I was getting ready to play college football and they took it away faster than a blink of an eye."

So Bess formed a 7-on-7 football team at Orin Allen Rehabilitation Facility in nearby Byron. Keith Bhonapha, a former graduate assistant coach at Hawaii, filmed Bess at the request of John Beam, their mutual high school coach.

Bhonapha sent the tape to then-Hawaii coach June Jones, well known for giving young men second chances.

Bess repaid Jones with three of the most prolific receiving seasons in NCAA history, finishing with a Western Athletic Conference record 293 receptions for 3,610 yards and 41 touchdowns in the Warriors' pass-happy, run-and-shoot offense.

"It's unbelievable that he didn't get drafted anywhere from the second to fourth round," said Jones, now coach of Southern Methodist. "Sometimes these kids' pasts scare the pros and scouts.

"But he's a great kid with an unbelievable work ethic. Our practices would start at 7 a.m., and I'd get there at 6, and Davone would be catching balls on the jugs machine in the dark."

Bess' slow 40 time (4.64) at the NFL Scouting Combine also scared teams, but his agent, Kenny Zuckerman, said Bess' 1.53 seconds time in the 10-yard sprint compared favorably to Donnie Avery, the first receiver taken in the draft.

"After having Wes Welker, I think the Dolphins know what he's worth and Davone could be the same kind of find," Zuckerman said.

Dolphins coach Tony Sparano realizes that there is a need for a quick, slot receiver with Bess' "good ball skills," but suggested he improve his conditioning.

"Sometimes you can look long and hard at receivers and not see ability for a long time," Sparano said. "With him, you see a bunch of it when you watch their tape. He's running and catching constantly."

Bess' former receivers coach, Hawaii offensive coordinator Ron Lee, is fed up with the lack of respect shown to Warriors receivers, three of whom averaged more than 100 catches and 1,000 yards but didn't get drafted.

"I don't understand it," said Lee, whose four receivers from last season are all in NFL camps. "We throw the ball, pitch the ball and we run fast routes.

"Why wouldn't you want a receiver who studies defenses, knows coverages and how to get open off the line?

"Davone is so quick, no one will be able to jam him at the line. He has a tremendous feel about the seam and not getting there until the ball is in the air. You can't teach that."

The most renowned receiver from Hawaii under Jones and Lee is the 49ers' Ashley Lelie, the 19th pick in 2002.

Lelie has had a solid career, topping off with 54 catches for 1,084 yards and seven touchdowns for Denver in 2004.

Jones said that of the seven best NFL receivers he has coached, none has anything on Bess, including five-time Pro Bowler Andre Rison. He also compared Bess' punt-return skills to that of three-time Pro Bowl returner Eric Metcalf.

"[Dolphins vice president Bill Parcells] is going to like him. When the game gets big, Davone gets bigger," Jones said. "I'd be shocked if he doesn't make plays for the Dolphins this year."