Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics
Up Front and At Home
August 13, 2021 | Football, Joel Coleman
Jordan Davis is making the most of his move from linebacker to defensive end.
STARKVILLE – Mike Leach was taking just his second question of the preseason back a week ago following Mississippi State's first practice of 2021. The head coach of the Bulldogs fielded a query from a reporter on which players had stood out the most on the initial day of camp.
The very first name out of Leach's mouth was senior defensive end Jordan Davis. On that particular day, Davis had been disruptive during team drills. He was consistently making plays. In the practices since, Davis has continued to shine. The converted linebacker has settled in on the MSU defensive front. For him, there's no looking back at the position he used to play.
"I feel way more comfortable with my hand in the dirt honestly," Davis said.
Each day, Davis seems to be making himself more and more at ease in the trenches.
It was around midseason last year when Davis first made the switch from linebacker to end. He'd started the season playing the Sam linebacker spot before the decision was made to push Davis up to the front line. Initially, it was a work in progress.
"It was a learning process for him, but you saw him continue to get better as the season went," State defensive line coach Jeff Phelps said.
For Davis, his physicality wasn't the issue. He's very well put together. He's the type of football player that very much looks the part.
Yet there was a mental hurdle for Davis to jump over when moving positions. Slowly and surely, with the guidance of Phelps, things started to click for Davis.
"Without Coach Phelps, I'd have never gotten it down mentally," Davis said. "Me, having made that transition from the middle of the season from linebacker to D-end, it was very hard for me. But he always taught me how to just always move on to the next play, always stay in your playbook and stay focused on the task at hand."
Davis ultimately played in nine games last season. He totaled 22 tackles. More importantly, by the time the year concluded, he was feeling good about himself. Davis carried his confidence into the offseason.
Phelps praised Davis' commitment to improve through the spring and summer. By the time camp opened back on August 5, he was catching everyone's eye as indicated by how Leach quickly pointed to Davis in his post-practice press conference.
That Davis would work hard shouldn't be surprising. In fact, it's fitting. He's at MSU, in part, because of his admiration for how Bulldogs before him didn't shy away from doing a little extra.
Davis came to State from Copiah-Lincoln Community College. Before officially joining the Bulldogs, he was visiting campus when something caught his eye.
"I always tell this one story," Davis said. "I saw [former MSU and current Kansas City Chiefs linebacker] Willie Gay working out by himself. I asked, 'Who is that out on the field?' They were like, 'That's Willie Gay. He's out here getting in extra work.' When I saw him getting in extra work, then I saw other players getting in extra work. I felt like everybody was on the same page. Everybody was in tune with what was going on."
Now it's Davis who's the one doing all it takes to better himself, leading to his strong showing in the early days of camp.
Davis credits his August success to feel. He simply feels like he belongs up front now.
"I feel way better than last year," Davis said. "I feel like last year was just a mental game for me. Being my first time in the SEC, it was just a lot of mental things I had to overcome. Now that I've found my confidence, I feel like the sky is the limit."
Davis can't help but smile thinking about what the months ahead could bring for him. Now that he's settling in at end, he freely admits it seems to be a better fit for the way he likes to play the game.
"I feel I can be way more aggressive than what I was at linebacker," Davis said. "When I'm at D-end, I can just play. I feel like a free man."
Being on the defensive front has simplified things for Davis. Linebackers have the reputation for being the quarterbacks of the defense. There are calls to make. There are teammates to put in position. Being on the end has relieved Davis of some of those duties.
So the page is now fully turned. Davis is no longer just the guy that moved from linebacker. No, he's a full-fledged defensive end. He worked for it. He earned it.
Davis isn't a finished product yet, and he doesn't pretend to be. There's refining left to do. Still, he feels like he's found a home.
That mean's it's possible, perhaps even likely, last week wasn't the last time Davis' name will be on Leach's lips this year.
"I can definitely say I feel like a defensive end now," Davis said. "Now that I have the confidence level, now that I have the size and now that I have the speed, I feel like it has all come together now."
The very first name out of Leach's mouth was senior defensive end Jordan Davis. On that particular day, Davis had been disruptive during team drills. He was consistently making plays. In the practices since, Davis has continued to shine. The converted linebacker has settled in on the MSU defensive front. For him, there's no looking back at the position he used to play.
"I feel way more comfortable with my hand in the dirt honestly," Davis said.
Each day, Davis seems to be making himself more and more at ease in the trenches.
It was around midseason last year when Davis first made the switch from linebacker to end. He'd started the season playing the Sam linebacker spot before the decision was made to push Davis up to the front line. Initially, it was a work in progress.
"It was a learning process for him, but you saw him continue to get better as the season went," State defensive line coach Jeff Phelps said.
For Davis, his physicality wasn't the issue. He's very well put together. He's the type of football player that very much looks the part.
Yet there was a mental hurdle for Davis to jump over when moving positions. Slowly and surely, with the guidance of Phelps, things started to click for Davis.
"Without Coach Phelps, I'd have never gotten it down mentally," Davis said. "Me, having made that transition from the middle of the season from linebacker to D-end, it was very hard for me. But he always taught me how to just always move on to the next play, always stay in your playbook and stay focused on the task at hand."
Davis ultimately played in nine games last season. He totaled 22 tackles. More importantly, by the time the year concluded, he was feeling good about himself. Davis carried his confidence into the offseason.
Phelps praised Davis' commitment to improve through the spring and summer. By the time camp opened back on August 5, he was catching everyone's eye as indicated by how Leach quickly pointed to Davis in his post-practice press conference.
That Davis would work hard shouldn't be surprising. In fact, it's fitting. He's at MSU, in part, because of his admiration for how Bulldogs before him didn't shy away from doing a little extra.
Davis came to State from Copiah-Lincoln Community College. Before officially joining the Bulldogs, he was visiting campus when something caught his eye.
"I always tell this one story," Davis said. "I saw [former MSU and current Kansas City Chiefs linebacker] Willie Gay working out by himself. I asked, 'Who is that out on the field?' They were like, 'That's Willie Gay. He's out here getting in extra work.' When I saw him getting in extra work, then I saw other players getting in extra work. I felt like everybody was on the same page. Everybody was in tune with what was going on."
Now it's Davis who's the one doing all it takes to better himself, leading to his strong showing in the early days of camp.
Davis credits his August success to feel. He simply feels like he belongs up front now.
"I feel way better than last year," Davis said. "I feel like last year was just a mental game for me. Being my first time in the SEC, it was just a lot of mental things I had to overcome. Now that I've found my confidence, I feel like the sky is the limit."
Davis can't help but smile thinking about what the months ahead could bring for him. Now that he's settling in at end, he freely admits it seems to be a better fit for the way he likes to play the game.
"I feel I can be way more aggressive than what I was at linebacker," Davis said. "When I'm at D-end, I can just play. I feel like a free man."
Being on the defensive front has simplified things for Davis. Linebackers have the reputation for being the quarterbacks of the defense. There are calls to make. There are teammates to put in position. Being on the end has relieved Davis of some of those duties.
So the page is now fully turned. Davis is no longer just the guy that moved from linebacker. No, he's a full-fledged defensive end. He worked for it. He earned it.
Davis isn't a finished product yet, and he doesn't pretend to be. There's refining left to do. Still, he feels like he's found a home.
That mean's it's possible, perhaps even likely, last week wasn't the last time Davis' name will be on Leach's lips this year.
"I can definitely say I feel like a defensive end now," Davis said. "Now that I have the confidence level, now that I have the size and now that I have the speed, I feel like it has all come together now."
Players Mentioned
DE
/ FootballThursday, April 16
Saturday, April 11
Saturday, April 11
Saturday, April 11