35 DAYS TO KICKOFF: Will Davis

#35 Will Davis Redshirt Junior 6-0 | 224 Southlake, Texas Bio

Position: Linebacker Previous College: None Projection: Starter Status: On Scholarship

William Tyler Davis (b. Nov. 4, 1993) is a hard-hitting linebacker from the legendary Southlake Carroll Senior High School program in Texas who benefited from a redshirt season in 2012.

He saw increased playing time on defense as a sophomore, will compete for starting duties as a middle linebacker while adding depth to special teams and was voted a player representative for the 2015 season.

Davis played in all 13 games in 2013, making 16 tackles. He tied for third on the team with six special teams stops, and carded a career-best five tackles in consecutive games against Iowa State and Texas Tech.

He then appeared in all 13 games last season, including six starts; recorded 35 tackles on the year, including two for loss and a fumble recovery against Stephen F. Austin; carded a career-high eight tackles at TCU, while he had six at both Iowa State and Baylor; had a TFL against Kansas; and earned first-team Academic All-Big 12 honors.

Davis started for the Purple team in the 2014 spring game and appeared slated to succeed Blake Slaughter as the starting middle linebacker. But for persistent injuries, Dakorey Johnson appeared to be the superior player in 2014.

Davis appears to have something of a speed deficit when it comes to playing at the Big 12 level, and while that has not stopped other, similar players from starting (John Houlik, Alex Hrebec, etc.), it does leave fans wanting.

But until one of our new linebackers steps up and claims the spot, that Mike position is Davis' to lose, in my opinion.

Davis led Southlake Carroll to an undefeated state championship in 2011 and had 176 tackles, including 115 solo stops, 10 sacks, six knockdowns, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He's also strong as hell.

He was a team captain and defensive MVP in 2011, and also was named the defensive MVP of the 2011 state title game. He earned 2011 first team all-state honors from Fox Sports, Old Coach and 5A Texas Football.

Davis was named the Texas Class 5A Defensive Player of the Year by the Texas Sports Writers Association and Padilla Poll; all-area by The Dallas Morning News and Old Coach; and one of the state’s top recruits by The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, The Dallas Morning News, Dave Campbell’s Texas Football and Lemming.

He totaled 308 tackles, 25 for a loss, and 14 sacks in his final two prep seasons; led Carroll to a combined 37-6 record in three seasons; and also was an academic all-state scholar and a member of the National Honor Society.