Linebacker Jamal Davis ready to compete at Pitt

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Jamal Davis II is within a week from officially joining the Pitt football program.  The mobile and hostile freshman linebacker from Canton McKinley (OH) High School was unable to join his fellow class of 2014 members in June.  He simply needed some to rectify a small issue with his transcripts.  Davis completed some additional coursework and he’s ready to make an impact at Pitt.

“I’m so excited to join the team on Sunday.  I can’t wait,” said Davis.  “I have been in close touch with Adonis Jennings, Chris James, Alex Bookser and Phillipie Motley.  They have been keeping me up to date as to what the entire team has been doing.  All of the workouts, drills, etc.  We connect through the phone, snap chat and text messages.  They’re excited to get me down there and working with them.”

Davis registered 105 tackles, 3.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and 21 tackles for a loss his senior year.  He primarily played middle linebacker.  Jamal was selected first team All-Ohio Division I (largest classification) by The Associated Press and named Northeast Inland District Division I Defensive Player of the Year.  McKinley finished the season with an impressive 9-2 record, winning the Federal League championship and a berth in the Ohio Division I state playoffs.

“I looked at the new roster that’s up online for Pitt.  They list me at 200 pounds.  That’s way off,” he said.  “I’m 6-foot-3 inches tall and 218 pounds at the moment.  I’m probably heading to Pitt a solid 220 pounds.”

Davis is well aware of the rigorous workouts his freshmen teammates have endured over the last month.  He has attempted to replicate their efforts at home.  “I have been working out with my coaches.  They have been on top of me,” he said.  “I have been in touch with (Pitt defensive coordinator) Matt House as well.  He has kept me up to date on what the team is doing.  I’m putting in three solid workouts a week.  I don’t want to lose any ground on the others.”

“I’m going into Pitt with the mindset that I want to start as a true freshman.  I’m a competitor. You don’t play for Canton McKinley if you don’t want to compete,” he said.  “McKinley teaches you to compete.  It’s in our blood.  I started at linebacker as a sophomore.  That doesn’t happen a lot in our program.  I was only 6-foot-1 inches, 180 pounds at the time.  I want to come in and make a name for myself.”

“(Pitt head football Coach) Paul Chryst and Coach House have been great.  They are really excited to have me join them on Sunday.  They keep telling me I’m a big piece of the puzzle.”

The instant notoriety that standout wide receiver Tyler Boyd and running back James Conner have accumulated had a major influence on Davis.  He would like to make a similar impact his first year as a Panther.

“I want to end up being the best linebacker ever to play for Pitt,” he said.  “It all starts with my freshman year.  I look at players like Tyler (Boyd) and James (Conner) and they made a name for themselves.  Everyone is talking about them.  I want to make a similar impact.  I want to take over.  That’s the mindset I’m going in with.”

Davis compared his playing style to a new ‘next door neighbor’.  “I visited Ohio State a year ago and had a long talk with Ryan Shazier (Steelers 2014 1st round pick).  We had a great conversation.  It has always stuck with me,” he said.  “I feel that I have a similar style of play.  We are both fast and athletic.  Shazier told me when we spoke that I reminded him of a younger version of him.  It’s crazy to think that we’re probably going to run into each other when I get to Pitt. He’s playing right next door.  I have no doubt he’ll remember me.”

“Make an impact as a freshman, make people remember my name, become one of the most dominant linebackers in the ACC then get to the NFL.  That sums up my goals,” Davis emphatically stated.  “It all starts on Sunday.  I can’t wait.”

Harry G. Psaros can be found on Twitter at @PittGuru

Jamal Davis can be found on Twitter at @JamalDavisII