Raekwon Davis

Raekwon Davis's Biography

Born on June 10, 1997, Raekwon Davis (pronounced RAY-kwon) is an accomplished American professional football player of the National Football League (NFL). Currently, he holds the position of defensive tackle for the Indianapolis Colts, a commitment set until the end of the 2025 NFL season. This two-year contract landed Davis a notable $14 million, with a guaranteed sum of $7 million.

Prior to his time playing for the Colts, Davis was drafted in 2020 by the Miami Dolphins, under whom he fulfilled the requirements of his 4-year rookie contract. Before ascending into the professional sphere, Davis enjoyed a successful college football career with the Alabama Crimson Tide, contributing towards their national victory in January 2018.

Davis’ journey began in Meridian, Mississippi, where he was born in 1997. He later attended Meridian High School and embarked on his football journey playing as a defensive lineman. Despite his measly 10 tackles in 2013, during his sophomore year, Davis’ extraordinary stature proved captivating. Standing at six feet seven inches tall and weighing over 300 pounds before his graduation, he was an impressive prospect despite his relatively limited experience and unrefined technique.

Davis caught the attention of substantial football programs across the southern region. The Alabama Crimson Tide, Mississippi State, the University of South Carolina, and Ole Miss all offered scholarships. Interestingly, Ole Miss hoped to convert Davis into an offensive tackle. In the end, Davis opted for the first program to offer him a scholarship: The University of Alabama.

Davis’ performance in his junior year was exemplary. His elevated game played a critical role in the Wildcats’ successful seven-win, five-loss 2014 season. Davis delivered 31 tackles and six sacks, making a strong impression despite the team’s losses. Inspired by his performance, he again played for the Crimson Tide in 2016 but added minimal statistics. Nevertheless, the team triumphed the season with a 14-win record before succumbing to the Clemson Tigers 35–31 in the College Football Playoff National Championship held in January 2017.

However, Davis’ commitment to the sport didn’t go unnoticed. During the 2017 season, Davis recorded career-best statistics with 8.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss in 13 games. He also successfully weathered a shooting incident in the summer of that year, returning to the field less than a week later to record a sack in the opening game against the Florida State Seminoles.

Throughout his time with the Crimson Tide, Davis demonstrated prowess and resilience. Notably, he took part in the College Football Playoff National Championship in both 2018 and 2019, emerging victorious in the former but tasting bitter defeat in the latter. Despite the loss, Davis was acknowledged as a second-team All-American at defensive tackle.

The subsequent decision to return to Alabama for a senior season did little for Davis’ standing in the 2019 NFL draft. His production was perceived to have declined in his senior year, leading to his drop to Day 2 of the 2020 NFL draft. Nevertheless, he was successfully picked by the Miami Dolphins in the second round, as the 56th pick overall.

Within the Dolphins’ roster, Davis played in all 16 games during his inaugural professional season of 2020 and ended the year with 40 tackles. He was rightfully named in the PFWA All-Rookie Team. Unfortunately, his performance was disrupted by an injury in September 2021, which led him to the injured reserves list.

Post-injury, Davis continued to be an active player for the Dolphins in his four-year tenure. In March 2024, he agreed to a two-year contract with the Indianapolis Colts. The anticipation is for Davis to assume a rotational reserve role alongside starting defensive tackles Grover Stewart and DeForest Buckner in 2024.

In the Colts’ staple “attack front”, Davis will have the opportunity to showcase his talents under the keen eyes of defensive coordinator Gus Bradley and defensive line coach Charlie Partridge. The Colts firmly believe Davis’ has the potential to transition into their scheme and greatly contribute to the team’s success.