At only 5-foot-11 and 225 pounds, Deshaun Davis was a bit undersized to play inside linebacker which is exactly why he was a three-star recruit and No. 479 prospect in the class of 2014.
And despite Davis racking up 138 tackles, 15 TFLs and six forced fumbles as a junior at Vigor high school in Mobile (missed his senior season with torn ACL) not many expected Davis to become a three-year starter and one of the best linebackers in school history.
This is especially true considering Davis’ signing was overshadowed by the commitment of five-star inside linebacker Tre’ Williams in the same class.
After redshirting during his freshman year and playing a backup role in 2015, Davis was named the starter for the Tigers and improved every year. Davis reached his full potential as a RS senior in 2018 when he recorded 112 tackles, 15 TFLs (both team highs) and 3.5 sacks.
Davis was the leader of an Auburn defense that ranked 14th in the nation in opponent points per game and was named to the All-SEC first team that year.
Concerns about his size led to Davis falling all the way to the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. And after playing practice squad roles for the Cincinnati Bengals, Jacksonville Jaguars and Philadelphia Eagles as a rookie, the former Auburn star signed a contract with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the CFL.