Could Jamin Davis be a mid-round steal at LB?

Jamin Davis, LB
School: Kentucky | Conference: SEC
College Experience: RS Junior | Age: 22 (?)
Height / Weight: 6’4” / 234 lbs
Projected Draft Status: Round 3-4

College Statistics

Player Overview

Davis came onto my radar screen recently in a video by Brett Kollmann on draft prospects. Kollmann actually has Davis as his second highest rated linebacking prospect, behind only Notre Dame’s Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah.

Throughout his career at Kentucky, Davis played in 36 games over three seasons, only starting 11 of them (10 during his redshirt junior season). During his final season, he was Kentucky’s top tackler (102) and collected 4 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, and 3 interceptions, including a 75-yard interception for a TD against Tennessee. His performance earned him second team All-SEC recognition and All America honorable mention.

Davis’ game is still raw, with tremendous potential, but in this strangest of pre-draft circumstances, he’s drawing lots of attention for having the building blocks to succeed in the NFL.

“He wasn’t asked to do a ton of complex things in coverage at UK, and his collegiate production/PFF grading profile doesn’t leap off the page,” PFF’s Austin Gayle wrote in an email to the Herald-Leader. “But it’s a traits-driven process when it comes to the NFL Draft, and he’s got the movement skills and length teams want at the position in today’s NFL.”

Strengths

• Great range.
• Has solid ball skills in coverage.
• Good short area quickness.
• Effective tackler.
• Has good size for a linebacker. Likely a WILL in the NFL.

Weaknesses

• Used as a rotational player at Kentucky.
• Needs to work on being able to shed linemen.
• Could be more decisive reading plays.
• Still fairly inexperienced. Only 11 career starts.

Let’s See His Work

How He Would Fit

At this point, most fans agree, linebacker has to be a priority for Washington in the 2021 draft. The good news is, the draft seems to be fairly talent heavy at the position. While players like Micah Parsons, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, and Zaven Collins are attracting the most attention in the lead up to the draft, linebackers like Jabril Cox, Dylan Moses, and Davis are likely to be around on Day 2 (or later) and in a position to help whatever team they’re drafted to fairly early.

Davis really only has one year of established performance, so drafting him is a bit a gamble on the skills that he showed this season, but in the film I’ve watched, I’ve been pretty impressed. He’s a very solid tackler, has good size, and a nose for the ball. I’d be excited if Rivera and Del Rio decide he’s a fit for their system come draft day.