South Carolina defensive lineman Devontae Davis announced that he plans to transfer into the Virginia football program. The graduate transfer has one year of eligibility remaining as a Super Senior due to the eligibility freeze during the pandemic season.
Davis made the announcement on Twitter.
Beyond Grateful!!! @UVAFootball pic.twitter.com/JrYymcClqs
— Devontae Davis (@BallinDavis) May 16, 2022
The lineman spent his first five years at Georgia Military College (junior college) and South Carolina. He created more production at GMC in 2017 and 2018. As a freshman, he recorded 15 tackles with 5 sacks in 9 games. As a sophomore, he upped his totals to 30 tackles with 10 tackles for loss including 4 sacks. After that time with the Bulldogs, 247Sports ranked him as the No. 3 defensive end product coming out of the JUCO level.
Davis landed with the Gamecocks ahead of the 2018 Belk Bowl in December and participated in practices during that period. Interestingly, that turned out to be the bowl win for the Bronco Mendenhall era as the Hoos rolled 28-0. After working in multiple spots up front in the spring, Davis injured his foot in preseason practice and redshirted the 2019 season. That may have impacted his opportunities and he only played in one game during the shortened 2020 season. Last season, Davis finally got more regular time on the field. He appeared in 8 games and recorded 4 tackles (3 against Texas A&M).
During the South Carolina portion of his career, the program underwent a coaching change from Will Muschamp to Shane Beamer. A native of New Ellenton, S.C., he likely has familiarity with new UVA coach Tony Elliott and this provides a fresh chance in his final year of collegiate eligibility.
For the Cavaliers, Davis brings more depth to the defensive line unit. With past experience playing in multiple spots along the D-Line, he fits into the new scheme being implemented by defensive coordinator John Rudzinski. Out of a base 3-4 look, Rudzinski features a “Bandit” defensive end/outside linebacker hybrid player to rotate between odd and even fronts. In the three defensive line spots, the players shift technique alignments so Davis’ past experience in different spots should help him in that role.
Virginia needs tackle depth, in particular, with junior Jahmeer Carter being the only true nose tackle type at 6’2” and 319 pounds. Obviously players like Aaron Faumui (6’1”, 283), Ben Smiley III (6’4”, 264), and Olasunkonmi Agunloye (6’6”, 282) can play a tackle spot but it’s from a different physical frame, while 6’6”, 297-pound Hugh Laughlin is younger as a sophomore. At 6’4” and 300 pounds, Davis adds another option to the position group.
Overall, the addition provides another example of the spots Elliott sees the need for added depth. Davis became the sixth graduate student along the offensive and defensive lines expected to join the Virginia roster this fall.
On the offensive line, Dartmouth’s John Paul Flores and Georgetown’s Mac Hollensteiner helped fill losses in that group. On the defensive line, Michigan State defensive end Jack Camper enrolled in January and Columbia defensive end Paul Akere committed as well. All four of those players are listed on the roster already. Miami-Ohio defensive end Kameron Butler also announced his transfer to UVA. He and Davis, the two other DL additions, have not been listed on the VirginiaSports.com roster as of yet. (That’s true of Miami-Florida running back Cody Brown as well.)
The group of line transfers indicates that the Hoos want to add depth and experience in the trenches. Some of it came by necessity as the offensive line numbers this spring dropped below 10 available players due to injuries, but it’s clear that more personnel was desired in those spots. The offense is expected to include more traditional running plays so added linemen addresses that style change as well. On the defensive side, tackles coach Kevin Downing said during the spring that he would like to rotate as many capable and prepared players as possible up front. You need depth and competition to meet that goal.
It will be interesting to see if Virginia adds any more linemen before preseason camp arrives later this summer.
That’s why we pay our coaches the big bucks.
Great addition