# Jamin Davis

Jamin Davis (/dʒeɪmɪn/ JAY-men; born December 12, 1998) is an American professional football linebacker. He played college football for the Kentucky Wildcats and was drafted by the Washington Football Team in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft. Davis played defensive end with Washington in 2024 before being released midway through the season.

## Early life

The son of U.S. Army parents, Davis was born on a military base in Honolulu on December 12, 1998. His family moved to Hinesville, Georgia, when he was a year old, with Davis later attending Long County High School in Ludowici, Georgia. Playing linebacker and wide receiver for their football team, Davis compiled 131 tackles as a junior and 126 more as a senior while also catching three touchdowns.

## College career

A three-star prospect, Davis committed to play college football for the Kentucky Wildcats. He redshirted as a freshman in 2017 and played mostly on special teams in 2018, also recording an interception as a reserve player. He followed with 32 tackles in 2019 before being named as a starter for the 2020 season, where he led the team in tackles with 102 and also recorded 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and three interceptions, one of which he returned 85 yards for a touchdown.

### Statistics

| Season | Games | Tackles | Solo | Ast | TFL | Sacks | Int | FF | FR | TD |
| 2017 | Redshirted | Redshirted | Redshirted | Redshirted | Redshirted | Redshirted | Redshirted | Redshirted | Redshirted | Redshirted |
| 2018 | 7 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | 8 | 32 | 12 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | 10 | 102 | 48 | 54 | 4 | 1.5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Career | 25 | 144 | 66 | 78 | 5 | 2.5 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 |

## Professional career

Pre-draft measurables :
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press |
| 6 ft 3+1⁄2 in (1.92 m) | 234 lb (106 kg) | 33 in (0.84 m) | 9+1⁄2 in (0.24 m) | 4.47 s | 1.53 s | 2.61 s | 42 in (1.07 m) | 11 ft 0 in (3.35 m) | 21 reps |
| All values from Kentucky's Pro Day ||||||||||

### Washington Football Team / Commanders

Davis was selected by the Washington Football Team in the first round (19th overall) of the 2021 NFL draft. He signed his four-year rookie contract on May 13, 2021. Davis took over as the starting middle linebacker over Cole Holcomb, who suffered an injury, in the Week 10 game against the Philadelphia Eagles. In it, he recovered a fumble that put the Commanders in position to kick a field goal in a victory over the Eagles. He was placed on injured reserve on January 7, 2023, finishing the season with a team-leading 104 tackles, two fumble recoveries, and three sacks.
On April 25, 2024, the Commanders declined the fifth-year option on Davis' contract. He moved to defensive end in the offseason. Davis was released on October 22, 2024. He appeared in five of seven games and recorded 12 tackles.

### Green Bay Packers

On October 29, 2024, Davis was signed to the Green Bay Packers practice squad.

### Minnesota Vikings

Davis signed with the Minnesota Vikings on November 26, 2024. He was released on December 28.

### New York Jets

On December 31, 2024, Davis was claimed off waivers by the New York Jets.

## Personal life

Davis' childhood nickname was "Shadow", named after Shadow from the Sonic the Hedgehog video game franchise. He received the nickname from a close friend and partner in track sprinting nicknamed Sonic, as the two characters are rivals in the franchise. Davis majored in community and leadership development at Kentucky and wore 44 as his Wildcats uniform number to honor his grandmother who died at age 44. He was interning at an attorney's office in Lexington, Kentucky, prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Davis is a fan of NASCAR, with his favorite driver being Jimmie Johnson.
On March 28, 2022, Davis was cited with his second reckless driving charge after being caught driving 114 miles per hour in Loudoun County Parkway. On August 1, 2023, Loudoun County district court issued him a guilty verdict, resulting in Davis receiving a 30-day jail sentence, a fine, and a suspension of his driver's license. Davis' case was up for review two days later, but the review was given a continuance to August 31. Davis' appeal was originally set for a jury trial scheduled for March 4, 2024, but his appeal was settled three days earlier. On March 1, 2024, in exchange for Davis pleading guilty to reckless driving, he was sentenced to a six-month suspension of his driver's license, a $2,500 fine along with additional court costs, and mandatory community service and avoided a jail sentence.