A 6-foot-4, 232-pound linebacker with a sub-4.40 40-yard dash and a 42-inch vertical? Sign the Washington Football Team up, who selected Kentucky’s Jamin Davis with the No. 19 overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft.
You read that right — some of Davis’ unofficial numbers are crazy, and his athletic display gave him a whole lot of hype in draft buzz. The fact that he recorded over 100 tackles as a junior in 2020 and was named to several All-SEC teams doesn’t hurt, either, and he made about as much of a statement as he possibly could have in just one season of notable productivity.
Here’s the rest of the rundown on Davis.
Measurables:
School:
2020 stats:
Accolades:
Strengths:
- His ceiling is as high as any linebacker in the draft
- His extreme athleticism allows him to have versatility to play all over the field
- Can sniff out the run and contain a quarterback
- Pursuit of quarterback can occur in the blink of an eye
- Big frame and long arms helps in roles as a pass rusher and in coverage
Weaknesses:
- Not the largest sample size
- Various experts say he still needs to understand how to diagnose a defense and rely on instincts as opposed to all athleticism
Expert scouting analysis:
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com
- “...ascending inside linebacker prospect with excellent blend of size, length and pursuit talent.”
- “...needs to improve his technique in taking on blocks and constricting run lanes.”
- “...plays with anticipation and an above-average catch radius to make quarterbacks pay for taking him lightly…”
Kyle Crabbs, The Draft Network
- “...long, rangy, and explosive and that correlated to several big plays in the passing game..”
- “...plenty of untapped potential in Davis’ game…”
- “...he has yet to master a feel of scraping through traffic and his overall quickness and confidence in decision-making leaves the door open for confident passers and ball-carriers…”
Player comparison:
It’s hard to find a pro player comparison for Davis, if only because his level of athleticism is rarely seen for a player of his size. Isaiah Simmons similarly caught the eyes of several scouts last season and was taken very high in the 2020 Draft as a result, though Davis doesn’t project to be as much of a jack of all trades as Simmons, who could potentially play safety. One comparison we've heard that should get fans excited: the electrifying Darius Leonard.
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