Jamin
Davis.
Jamin
Davis.
Kentucky· 6'3"· 234 lb· 4.47s 40
"One year of Kentucky tape and a 4.47 at 234 pounds. A pure trait bet — the film is thin, the athleticism is not."Pre-draft read
This linebacker operates as a zone defender, utilizing his range and closing speed to cover significant ground. He demonstrates adeptness in space, often closing on ball carriers downfield and finishing plays. His movement skills allow him to transition across the formation and react to developing plays, particularly in coverage.
He primarily wins with his athletic ability and speed in pursuit. While he shows instincts in zone drops and can produce at the catch point, his processing both before and after the snap can be inconsistent. He struggles to consistently take on and shed blocks from interior linemen, which can limit his effectiveness against power run schemes.
Washington's 4-3 Cover-3 match scheme with two-high safeties relies on athletic linebackers who can run and cover while freeing up the front four to rush the passer.
Initially a sub-package Will or nickel linebacker in year one, with the ceiling to develop into an every-down impact playmaking Mike LB or a pass rush specialist by year three.
A downhill, two-gap 3-4 scheme relying on linebackers to consistently take on and shed blocks from interior linemen.
Davis's elite athleticism and coverage instincts make him a fit for a modern, zone-heavy defense, but his raw processing and take-on technique require a tempered initial role and significant coaching investment.
Jamin Davis 2020 Kentucky Highlights
Welcome to Washington — Kentucky LB Jamin Davis Highlights
Jamin Davis (LB, Kentucky) Scouting Report — 2021 NFL Draft
This prospect profiles as an athletic linebacker intended for a role emphasizing speed and coverage. A team would acquire him based on his exceptional physical traits, including a 4.47 forty-yard dash time at 234 pounds, which indicates a high-ceiling athlete capable of covering ground sideline-to-sideline. His projection hinges on developing his football instincts and processing to match his physical capabilities.
His college career featured an atypical progression, transitioning from a special teams role to a single standout season as a redshirt junior in 2020. In his 11 starts that year, he registered 102 tackles and 3 interceptions, earning second-team All-SEC honors. This breakout year, coupled with his pro day performance, fueled his draft stock despite the limited sample size of his on-field production as a starter.
Evaluator concerns primarily centered on his limited 11 college starts and raw pre-snap processing. Despite these flags, his elite athleticism pushed him into first-round consideration. The consensus board had him projected in the 32-45 range, but he was ultimately selected by Washington with the 19th overall pick, signifying a high-stakes investment in his athletic upside.
- 01
Elite Athletic Profile
Elite Athletic Profile — He has a 4.47 forty-yard dash at 234 pounds, placing him in the top percentile at his position.
- 02
Sideline-to-Sideline Range
Sideline-to-Sideline Range — Capable of closing on ball carriers 15 yards downfield and finishing plays to the ball carrier.
- 03
Coverage Upside
Coverage Upside — Demonstrates plus zone-drop instincts and closing speed, fitting modern zone-heavy NFL defenses.
- 04
Catch Point Production
Catch Point Production — Secured 3 interceptions and 6 pass breakups in his lone starting season, showing hands at the catch point.
- 05
Strong Football Character
Strong Football Character — No reported character or medical flags, showing film-room preparation, work ethic, and coachability.
- 01
Limited College Experience
Limited College Experience — Only 12 total starts, leading to reliance on projection rather than extensive tape for evaluation.
- 02
Block Shedding Technique
Block Shedding Technique — Struggles against pulling guards and tight end blocks, unable to consistently stack and shed cleanly.
- 03
Processing Run Keys
Processing Run Keys — Exhibits late run keys and takes false steps on play-action, indicating mental processing needs development.
- 04
Functional Play Strength
Functional Play Strength — Has functional rather than plus play strength against downhill blocking, narrowing his every-down role.
— — — positional median (p50)
- 40 yd
- 4.47sp50
- Vertical
- 42inp50
- Broad jump
- 132inp50
- Three-cone
- —s
- Shuttle
- —s
- Bench
- —rep
| Yr | Team | G | Tkl | Sk | Int | PD | FF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Kentucky | 13 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2019 | Kentucky | 13 | 32 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | Kentucky | 10 | 102 | 1.5 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Career | — | 36 | 144 | 2.5 | 5 | 3 | 0 |
A dash means the figure is not published by a source we trust — never a zero we invented.
Modern space linebacker with coverage value and range, but more solid starter than weekly game-wrecker.
Explosive second-level athlete whose range, blitz juice and coverage growth can make him a true three-down centerpiece.
Traits-heavy linebacker whose trigger speed and block fits never fully sync, leaving more flashes than reliable control.
Everything above is the pre-draft evaluation. This section is what actually happened — updated year over year.
2021 (rookie, WAS): 12 MIKE starts, 78 tackles, 47 PFF grade — recognition problems. 2022: shift to WILL, 15 starts, 108 tackles, 55 PFF grade. 2023: 3 starts Weeks 1-3, then demoted to rotational and ST — 17 total tackles. 2024: 16 games, 45 tackles, 0.5 sacks, variable snap counts. WAS declined the fifth-year option. 2025: signs CHI 1-year/$3M prove-it as sub-package LB and ST captain. Career_av: 14.
Davis is the clean case study of the 2021 class on the danger of drafting athleticism over tape. Kentucky's March 2021 pro day was one of the best LB workouts of the decade: 4.47 forty at 234 lbs, 42" vertical, 11'0" broad, 6.90 three-cone — RAS 9.98, historically top-3%. In an NFL-ideal 6'3"/234 lb frame with 33" arms, those numbers fire the imagination: sideline-to-sideline LB with safety range and Cover-1 match closing speed against TEs. The 2020 tape had enough production — 102 tackles, 3 INTs with a pick-6 vs. Vanderbilt, second-team All-SEC — to justify interest.
The bear case was structural, not incidental. Eleven career college starts. Not enough sample to evaluate processing against repeat SEC fronts. Take-on-and-shed that lost reps when the guard reached the second level. Slow reaction to play-action. The consensus board had him in the 32-45 range pre-draft. Washington's decision-makers at #19 made the most aggressive traits-over-tape bet of the round, wagering that a year of development within the defensive scheme would unlock a Roquan Smith ceiling. That bet never landed.
Rookie 2021: 12 MIKE starts, 78 tackles but a 47 PFF grade — recognition problems, over-pursuit, gap discipline. 2022: moved to WILL, slight improvement to a 55 PFF grade in 15 starts. 2023: 17 tackles in 3 starts before being demoted to a rotational and special-teams role. 2024: 16 games, 45 tackles, 0.5 sacks, still variable snap counts — WAS declined the fifth-year option in April. 2025: signed with Chicago in March on a 1-year prove-it at $3M as a sub-package LB and ST captain.
The likely comp was always Kyzir White — athletic LB with range who produced a functional sub-package career without a star ceiling — and that floor has been hit almost exactly. The low Jarrad Davis materialized regarding WAS' original reach: 5 years of inconsistent starts with the drafting team, then a reset as a veteran journeyman. The repeatable lesson is simple: 11 NCAA starts + RAS 9.98 does not equal a top-20 pick without another year of tape validating the processing.