Jamin Davis is nothing if not humble, a modest person ready to take on the challenges that come with being a first-round pick in the NFL.
Selected 19th overall by Washington Thursday night, Davis wasn't even supposed to be a starter at Kentucky in 2020. Now, after making the most of his opportunity to step into a staring role his Junior year, the 6-foot-3, 234-pound linebacker is in the NFL, one of the first of his position off the board in the first round.
Davis introduced himself to the D.C. airwaves shortly after hearing his name called by Washington. Below is a Q&A transcript of his conversation with Craig Hoffman, which aired late Thursday evening on 106.7 The Fan.
(Editor's Note: Questions have been condensed.)
How does it feel to be a member of the Washington Football Team?
"Honestly, it's a dream come true and I just really can't wait to get to work."
What is it about this fit that's got you so excited?
"First and foremost, I get a chance to play behind such a talented defensive line. I feel like that's where all the battles get started up front, and honestly, it's just gonna open it up for me to make a whole lot of plays, just learning from a great coaching staff and, honestly, like I said, I just can't wait to get to work."
Watching Alabama's defensive line as an opponent at Kentucky, did you ever imagine how cool it might be to play behind them one day?
"Definitely. Like I said, it's always been a dream of mine to get to the highest level of play, and now that it's really happening, unfolding right before my eyes, I'm definitely gonna make the most of the opportunity."
What were your pre-draft conversations with Ron Rivera and Jack Del Rio? What did they talk about tonight?
"Basically just keeping straight upfront with me about everything as far as their coaching staff, and just their defensive scheme, and just how they love how I play and flying around, just getting to the ball at all times. And honestly, like I said, it was no magic hat tricks with anything that they were telling me. I just was ready to become a part of the Washington Football Team."
You were not slated to be a starter last year at Kentucky, then got thrown into the fire when your teammate endured a medical emergency. What was that experience like?
"Well, first and foremost, I definitely have to give a shoutout to Chris Oats, because to me, he was a brother of mine and we were always extremely close. Honestly, when it first happened, I knew I was going to have to step in and make plays and just finally take advantage of the opportunity that presented itself for me. And it was just something that I waited on my entire life, and I guess now I'm just soaking everything all in."
In honor of Oats, a different Wildcats player wore his No. 22 jersey each week. Tell me about the game where you wear his jersey.
"Ah, man. It was just an extreme amount of emotion for me just knowing that I was going to get a chance to represent him, and just knowing that I was going to go out and do whatever I could to fly around the field the same way he did."
At what point did you know the NFL was a realistic future for you?
"Honestly, I had that thought in the back of mind since the day I first picked up a football. It's just the way it just happened now, I never really paid attention to any mock drafts or anything like that. I just really just stayed true to myself and stayed grounded, and now that the process ended the way that it did, I'm just ready to get to work."
Give me the Jamin Davis scouting report. What are the areas of your game you're confident about? And what are the areas you know you need to work on?
"Personally, I really don't tend to brag on myself or anything like that. That's just never really been me. I just feel like I just need to go out and make plays, and do whatever I can to fly around and be around the ball at all times, whether that's in the run game, whether that's in coverage or whether that's on special teams. Wherever my number is called, I just need to be there to make plays. An area that I probably could just be a little bit better at is just striking guys and just being more physical, and just letting people know that I'm not gonna be some guy that's a pushover or a bust or anything like that."
The mental side of the game is so critical in the NFL. What experience do you have calling a defense? How big of a jump do you think that is? And how prepared are you to make that jump?
"I personally feel like I'm completely prepared for it and I know that I'm stepping into a coaching staff that will just do whatever I need to do to be ready when it comes Day 1."
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