As a prospective professional athlete hoping to compete in the NFL, coming out of a Division I football program that isn’t a household name or known for its rowdy 12th man crowd can make it difficult to stand out among the other major-college competition.

Current Denver Broncos linebacker Todd Davis shattered that mold and gave the Sacramento State Hornets a reason to tune in on Sundays this past season.

Davis is a product of Sac State who played linebacker from 2010 to 2013.

“Coming from a small school, you kind of have that ‘well, can he play at the next level, can he do this, can he do that?’” Davis said. “So it definitely helps you push past all the negative energy that’s out there and the questions that people have against you.”

Davis had a tumultuous introduction to the NFL: he had a disappointing pro day after producing a slow 40-yard dash time (4.87) and went undrafted. He signed with the New Orleans Saints June 23, 2014 only to be waived three times through Nov. 12. The following day, he signed with the Denver Broncos and went on to rack up 22 total tackles in four of their games, including a postseason appearance against the Indianapolis Colts.

“I just felt like the more comfortable I got and the more games I got under my belt, the better I felt, and the more freely I felt I could play,” Davis said.

Though he switched teams midseason, Davis said Denver was helpful in welcoming his arrival.

“When I came over to the Broncos, the guys that were in the locker room already did a great job of, you know, making me feel right at home, not making me feel like an outsider,” he said. “If I needed extra time to go over some plays, or watch some film, they were always willing to stay with me and stay after and just make sure I got it down.”

Davis made a splash when former Broncos head coach John Fox said he had adapted quickly, and teammates were impressed with his quick understanding of the Denver defense.

He attributes his season success to offseason training.

“That’s the biggest key: to put the time in in the offseason, the benefits come during the season,” he said.

Another person who recognizes this off-field dedication is DeAndre Carter, Davis’ teammate for three seasons while at Sac State.

“He’s a phenomenal football player,” Carter said. “He works harder than anybody I’ve met…[He] has a lot of instincts of the game. He’s a physical presence on the field at all times.”

Carter and Davis are close friends and trained together during Carter’s junior year. Carter and other former college teammates cheered alongside rambunctious Oakland Raiders fans for the Dec. 28 game that resulted in the Broncos’ 47-14 win.

“He played well that game,” Carter said. “Todd is always, every time I’ve seen him on the field, taking advantage of his opportunities and making the most of it.”

Among those who recognize Davis’ on and off-the-field work ethic is Jon Osterhout, who coached him in his 11 games during his 2010 season as a true freshman.

“He had all the physical attributes that you look for in a football player, but more importantly he had all the redeeming qualities that you look for in a student-athlete,” Osterhout said. “He’s a self-starter, intrinsically motivated and really wanted to become the best player that you possibly could.”

In his 2011 sophomore year, Davis led the team with 96 total tackles and earned honorable mention All-Big Sky honors as well as Player of the Week for the Hornets’ 14-0 win against Northern Colorado on Oct. 8, 2011.

He went on to his 2012 season to lead Sac State with 103 tackles, earning him second team All-Big Sky honors and the Hornets’ defensive MVP. He ended his collegiate career holding the record for second most tackles in program history.

“It’s not one specific game, it’s not one specific year, it’s a body of work, and that’s what they’re looking for at the [NFL],” Osterhout said. “Todd did all those necessary things because he understood the big picture.”

Davis is home temporarily but plans to head back to Denver for offseason training.

He is still in contact with former teammates, including Carter, who is also pursuing a post-collegiate career in the NFL.

“He’s been a huge help to me here recently, me going through the process that he just went through,” Carter said. “It’s helped me out just kind of picking his brain, finding out some information on the things that I need to do going through this process.”

In addition to support in the Oakland Raiders’ crowd, Davis also had a large group of his family present for the Broncos’ 22-10 win Dec. 14 against the San Diego Chargers. Osterhout said he tried to tune in to watch Davis’ NFL debut and the game against the Colts.

“It’s not every day you get to say that you played with a guy that’s in the NFL now, especially coming from Sacramento State,” Carter said. “So it’s been something that the city of Sacramento and Sacramento State and everybody’s been behind and watching him, supporting him.”

Though Davis had a rocky start to his NFL debut, he has played well and rallied the support from his family, Denver Broncos teammates and former Hornets’ coaches and teammates. It’s safe to say that Davis may have a 12th man of his own on the rise.