DT Rankings: A Closer Look At #1 DT Tyler Davis

With the off-season upon us we will be removing the players that have moved on to the NFL from our player rankings and re-ranking for the 2021 season. Before we jump into Tyler Davis being ranked number one, here’s a few reminders about the rankings themselves:

• The rankings will be updated throughout the season.
• Players who have not played college football are not eligible for the rankings.
• Players are graded on their college ability, not their pro potential.
• We are judging players on their film, production and physical tools.

You can view the College Football DT Rankings here.

Clemson defensive tackle, Tyler Davis holds on to the top spot in our rankings to start the 2021 season. Davis has been a force on the interior of the Tigers’ defensive line the past two seasons. He was ranked second on our final list for the 2020 season and his strong play warrants him filling the vacated top spot on this list. Davis has two years of experience under his belt and will lead a very talented Clemson front in 2021.

Dominating on the Defensive Line

Tyler Davis quickly impressed during his true freshman season at Clemson. He was able to make an impact right away and recorded a tackle for loss in nine of 15 games. In addition to the plays he made in the backfield, Davis was strong holding his ground against the run and created favorable match-ups for his teammates upfront. He finished his freshman season with 44 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, 2 pass breakups and 1 QB hurry.

In 2020, Davis missed five games and was not able to showcase his abilities for a full season. His absence accented how good he is, especially against Boston College and Notre Dame as the defense gave up their two highest point totals during the regular season. In fact, Davis did not play against four FBS opponents and those were the four highest point totals against Clemson outside of the semifinal game against Ohio State. Davis was excellent when he was on the field, finishing 2020 with 13 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks and a QB Hurry in seven games.

Davis’ Talents

Checking in at 6’2″ 300 lbs, Davis is a powerfully built defensive tackle. He has good upper body strength which coupled with his excellent lower body strength, allows him to drive blockers into the backfield. He has a quick first step and gets offensive linemen off balance, so he can use his hands, strength and leg drive to go through or around them to make plays in the backfield. Davis is advanced using his hands and does a good job of attacking one side of blockers to create an advantage.

Davis is a powerful player at the point of attack, but he also has the quickness to adjust to misdirection plays and cutbacks and has good speed in pursuit. He disengages blockers effectively and then closes on the ball carrier with good burst to make the tackle. His quickness and agility help him to find the gaps on the offensive line and wedge between them before blockers can adjust to him. This makes Davis a disruptive player against running plays as well as in pass rush situations.

Davis has a good feel for the game and is able to find the football on misdirections and screens. He is disciplined and understands the gap integrity of the defense and will stay in his lane to prevent cutback angles as he closes on the football. His intelligence and instincts allow him to get the most out of his physical ability. Davis is also a high motor player who plays from the snap to the whistle and will not quit on plays or take plays off.

Tyler Davis has all of the tools to be an excellent defensive tackle. He has the strength and burst to be disruptive against the run and the pass. His hand usage and technique were already good and improved from his freshman to sophomore season. Davis is an impact defensive tackle who is a handful for offensive linemen in the college game.

The Leader of a Scary Defensive Line

Tyler Davis is the leader of a talented and defensive line that has the potential to be the best in college football next season. He will be joined on the defensive front by fellow tackle Bryan Bresee and defensive end Myles Murphy, both of whom starred as true freshmen in 2020. Also playing defensive end for the Tigers is Xavier Thomas, who was one of the best at the position before injury and illness derailed his 2020 season. As if that foursome wasn’t enough, Clemson has plenty of young and talented depth waiting to contribute.

With a talented group of players around him, Davis will be able get better match-ups and dominate up front in 2021. Offenses will have to pick their poison and the Clemson defensive linemen may end up competing with one another to make the plays. The Tigers have been a playoff contender year in and year out and that will not change in 2021. Clemson is reloading on offense but Davis and the talented defensive line will wreak havoc and allow the offense time to go through any growing pains they may endure.

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