Alabama Crimson Tide star Raekwon Davis is coming off of a dominant season. If he shines in 2018, he could be the No. 1 overall selection in the 2019 NFL Draft.
The Alabama Crimson Tide have produced a surplus of star-caliber defensive players. Nick Saban’s program preaches toughness and accountability, as well as fundamental polish to complement the existing physical gifts that make them compelling recruits.
If there’s an example of a Crimson Tide star who checks every box, it certainly looks like it’s going to be defensive lineman Raekwon Davis.
Davis is a star prospect in a class that could feature as many as five defensive linemen in the top 10. That includes defensive tackle Ed Oliver and defensive end Nick Bosa. Their positional assignments just so happen to be what makes Davis unique: He’s in the both feared and coveted gray area.
That versatility is why Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN has Davis ranked as the No. 1 defensive lineman in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Mel Kiper’s 2019 NFL Draft Rankings:
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) April 30, 2018
#1 WR - AJ Brown
#1 QB - Drew Lock
#1 OT - Greg Little
#1 CB - Greedy Williams
#1 DL - Raekwon Davis pic.twitter.com/3lQNV6KDk3
Much could change between now and next April, but Davis is certainly deserving of the praise that he’s receiving from pundits around the NFL community.
Davis appeared in 13 games as a sophomore, and to say that he was dominant would be an egregious understatement. He recorded 69 tackles, including 10 for losses and 8.5 sacks—and he did it all while lining up at multiple spots along the defensive line.
While his run support must improve, Davis’ ability as a pure pass rusher has expectedly earned rave reviews from scouts and analysts alike.
Standing at 6’7″ and 306 pounds, the fact that Davis is a Goliath of a lineman only adds to his appeal at the NFL level.
Davis is currently riding high off of a pair of overwhelming performances from the College Football Playoff. He recorded five tackles and 1.0 sack against the Clemson Tigers, as well as five tackles, 1.0 sack, and an interception against the Georgia Bulldogs.
Having proven that he can shine on a big stage, Davis will now be tasked with establishing that he can carry the weight of expectations.
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If the Alabama Crimson Tide receive another explosive season from Raekwon Davis in 2018, he could be the first player off the board at the 2019 NFL Draft.