NFL CAREER – This dependable and sure-tackling defender came to the Saints after a breakout 2017 campaign, where he started all 16 games for the New York Jets. Davis enjoyed his best season as a pro posting a team-high and career-high 165 tackles (112 solo), a career-best five sacks, tied for second in the NFL among inside linebackers, three passes defensed and one fumble recovery. For his career, the Brandon, Miss. native has appeared in 96 games with 82 starts for the Jets (2012-15, 2017) and Cleveland Browns (2016), recording 660 tackles (429 solo), 23.5 sacks, one interception, 17 passes defensed, one forced fumble, four fumble recoveries and 24 special team stops.
NFL CAREER – This dependable and sure-tackling defender came to the Saints after a breakout 2017 campaign, where he started all 16 games for the New York Jets. Davis enjoyed his best season as a pro posting a team-high and career-high 165 tackles (112 solo), a career-best five sacks, tied for second in the NFL among inside linebackers, three passes defensed and one fumble recovery. For his career, the Brandon, Miss. native has appeared in 96 games with 82 starts for the Jets (2012-15, 2017) and Cleveland Browns (2016), recording 660 tackles (429 solo), 23.5 sacks, one interception, 17 passes defensed, one forced fumble, four fumble recoveries and 24 special team stops.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS –Signed by Saints to three-year contract (UFA-NYJ), 3/19/18; Traded by Browns to Jets, 6/1/17; Signed by Browns to two-year contract (UFA-NYJ); Signed four-year contract with Jets, 6/1/12; Selected by the New York Jets in the third round (77th overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft.
2017- Started all 16 games for the Jets at inside linebacker for New York and posted a team-best and career-high 165 tackles (112 solo), a career-best five sacks, tied for second in the NFL among inside linebackers, three passes defensed and one fumble recovery…In his first game back at Buffalo, Sept. 10, Davis led the team in tackles (14). Also added a half-sack, split with teammate LB Josh Martin…At Cleveland, Oct. 8,led the Jets for fifth straight week (nine), adding team-high four quarterback hits, one which was a hit on QB Kevin Hogan, leading to an interception by teammate CB Morris Clairborne…Tied teammate LB Darron Lee for team lead in tackles (11) and added fourth quarter nine-yard sack at Miami, Oct. 22…Vs. Buffalo, Nov. 2, tied Lee for the team lead in tackles with 11. Davis added a three-yard sack in the second quarter…Vs. Carolina, Nov. 12, for eighth time of season, Davis lead the Jets in tackles with 14. In the third quarter with Carolina backed up at their own 14-yard line, Davis recorded a third down sack to force a punt…At Denver, Dec. 10, Davis recorded a career-high 16 tackles, including one stop for loss and a half-sack, split with fellow LB David Bass. The sack brought Davis’ total to a team-best 5.0, the most he recorded in a single-season in his career. 2016- Voted season-long captain by his teammates in his only season in Cleveland…Finished second on the team with 99 tackles and added 2.0 sacks, two passes defensed and a forced fumble. Dec. 18, at Buffalo, recorded 10 tackles, tying his season-high for the third time in 2016…Nov. 10 at Baltimore, Registered his first sack of the season and finished the game with three tackles…Nov. 6 vs. Dallas, forced first fumble of season, jarring the ball loose from RB Ezekiel Elliott, while matching a season-high with 10 tackles. 2015- Started all 16 games and finished with a team-high 114 tackles, five passes defensed, 2.0 sacks and a fumble recovery for Jets. Dec. 13 vs. Tennessee, earned his second sack of the season when he took down QB Marcus Mariota for a loss of 13 yards on fourth down to halt a Titans fourth quarter drive…Nov. 12 vs. Buffalo, tied for the team lead with nine tackles (seven solo) and registered his first sack of the season, bringing down Tyrod Taylor for a one-yard loss…Oct. 4 at Miami, recorded three passes defensed, four tackles and two QB hurries…Nov. 27 vs. Philadelphia, registered 15 total tackles (including two for a loss)...Recorded his first fumble recovery of the season after recovering a RB Ryan Mathews fumble, which was forced by fellow linebacker David Harris. 2014- Started all 16 games for Jets…Recorded 125 tackles, 3.5 sacks, six passes defensed and two fumble recoveries…Dec. 28 at Miami, in the fourth quarter, sacked QB Ryan Tannehill for a loss of seven yards and increased his single-season sack total to 3.5. Finished with four tackles, one sack and one fumble recovery…Dec. 21 vs. New England, combined with S Antonio Allen to bring down Tom Brady for a loss of eight yards...Also tallied 12 tackles, one pass defensed and one QB hit…Sept. 22 vs. Chicago, led the team with 12 total tackles and also recorded a half sack for a loss of 0.5 yards, recovered one fumble and broke up a pass…Sept. 14 at Green Bay, recorded his first-career multi-sack performance, finishing with two sacks of QB Aaron Rodgers for loss of 22 yards...Also totaled seven tackles (including two for loss), three QB hits and a QB hurry. 2013- Started all 16 games for the Jets, ranking second on team with 120 tackles…Recorded a sack and an interception…Nov. 2 vs. New Orleans, recorded his first-career interception when he picked off a Drew Brees pass intended for TE Benjamin Watson in the first quarter…Sept. 22 vs. Buffalo, amassed nine tackles (including 1.0 for a loss)...Recorded his first career sack when he dropped E.J. Manuel for a three-yard loss…Sept. 8, vs. Tampa Bay, logged seven tackles, including a touchdown-saving run-down of WR Vincent Jackson to help win the game. 2012- Played in all 16 games as a rookie, making three starts. For the Jets, finished second on the team with 16 special teams tackles…Recorded defensive 33 tackles and a fumble recovery…Nov. 22 vs. New England, recorded a season-high eight tackles…Oct. 21 at New England, made his first NFL start, recording seven tackles.
COLLEGE- Played in 48 career games at Arkansas State, starting the final 37. Amassed 230 career tackles, seven sacks, five forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries (including one returned 53 yards for a TD)…Added seven passes defensed and four interceptions (including a 75-yard TD)…Three-time All-Sun Belt Conference selection…Earned his bachelor’s degree in communications at Arkansas State…Named to Arkansas State’s Athletic Director’s Honor Roll and Sun Belt Conference Academic Honor Roll multiple times.
PERSONAL- Prepped at Brandon (Ms.) HS and lead the team to its 14th playoff appearance in a 16-year period with a 7-5 record…Recorded 81 tackles, six interceptions and one sack as senior…2006 All-Region 3-5A, MAC First Team All-State and Clarion Ledger All-Metro selection…Played mostly wide receiver as sophomore and junior…Recorded four touchdowns and 386 receiving yards as a senior as well…Team Captain senior season…Starter on the Brandon basketball team and competed in the high jump with the varsity track & field team…He is the cousin of the late Steve McNair, the former NFL quarterback…Held an internship with United Way in Washington D.C. in 2017…Participated in the Willie Colon Alliance for Lupus Research (ALR) Golf Outing, benefiting the ALR Jean Davis Research Grant…Partnered with Saks Fifth Avenue as part of the “Taste of the New York Jets” on a fashion show with his teammates to help raise funds for the Food Bank for New York City…Founded the Devoted Dreamers Academy and hosts annual youth summer camps.
