Coming out of Wekiva High School in Apopka FL, Tyler Davis was a four-star recruit and the No. 17 defensive tackle prospect in the country, per 247Sports. Davis held offers from various Power Five programs including Baylor, Florida, FSU, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, and Tennessee before committing to Clemson.
In 2023, Davis was named a permanent team captain by his teammates on his way to a first-team All-ACC selection. At Clemson, Davis earned four All-ACC selections, including three consecutive first-team honors from 2021-23. He started 52 of his 56 games played for the Tigers. He played 474 snaps in 2023, ranking 128th amongst all FBS defensive tackles.
According to PFF, Davis accumulated 58 pressures, nine sacks, and 38 stops over the last two seasons (25 games) for the Tigers. In 2022, he generated 36 pressures and seven sacks on 307 pass-rush snaps. This past season, he generated 22 pressures and two sacks on 277 pass-rush snaps.
Among 319 FBS defensive tackles to play at least 300 snaps in 2023, Davis had the eighth-best overall PFF grade, the fourth-best run defense grade, and the 76th-best pass-rush grade. Additionally, he ranked 21st in pass-rush win rate on true pass sets.
2024 NFL Draft: Clemson DT Tyler "Baby Dex" Davis
— Quinten Krzysko (@ButkusStats) December 31, 2023
✅Dense, compact 300 lb frame with natural leverage
✅Good burst with power to drive solo blocks
❌MUST generate better knee bend at next level to max out leverage advantage#BuildingTheBoard pic.twitter.com/jrVB8SnI1b
Davis currently has a top-75 grade from our team, landing somewhere between picks 50 and 75. Davis burst onto the scene at Clemson in 2019 and has been a consistent presence in their deep defensive line rotation ever since. He has dealt with multiple injuries at Clemson (torn bicep in 2021), but nothing that should leave lasting impacts. Additionally, he has been voted a permanent captain by his teammates twice.
On tape, Davis possesses a natural leverage advantage that helps him generate a good lift off the snap. He possesses a stout, compact frame that's loaded up with explosive power into initial contact. Davis has impressive agility and footspeed for his size, allowing him to jump around gaps and play from multiple alignments. Against the run, he's an instinctive player with a natural feel for the flow of traffic and a motor to finish plays downfield.
While he does flash the ability to withstand double teams on occasion, it's not consistent enough to rely on. His power is more evident in initial contact than in his anchor. Part of the issue there is with his play height. He must improve his knee bend at the NFL level to maximize his natural leverage advantage and match more powerful blockers. Additionally, he is top-heavy, leading to some contact balance concerns. But the hope would be that an NFL training program could help him build mass more proportionately.
Davis could be a fit for the Chicago Bears from the mid-second round into the third round. While I'm skeptical about seeing the Bears invest more Day 2 draft capital on the interior defensive line, they could use an upgrade over Justin Jones. Davis fits the profile of a player who could be interchangeable for Matt Eberflus' scheme at the 3-technique and 1-technique spots. I feel like the Bears might wait until the third round to attack the interior defensive line, and Davis is a name to watch out for at that spot.
Pro Comp: Greg Gaines
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