Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1534903
M A Y 2 0 2 5 51 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M P enn State has been on a roll in Western Pennsylvania in recent years, and that trend continued on March 25 with the addition of Imani Christian athlete David Davis to the class of 2026. The 5-foot-11, 195-pound Pitts- burgh prospect chose the Nittany Lions over a list of favorites that also included Cincinnati, Michi- gan State, Nebraska, Pitt and West Virginia. He was in State College for a junior day on Feb. 1 and de- scribed the experience as "really memorable." "The brotherhood and electric energy and the community is so supportive," Davis said. "What ex- cites me most about the Nittany Lions is the chance to be part of such a storied program and the op- portunity to grow both on and off the field." A four-star 2026 prospect accord- ing to On3, Davis fits the "athlete" tag better than most. When assistant coach Terry Smith extended an offer during his freshman year, many thought that running back would be his best posi- tion at the next level. However, in more recent months, there's been speculation that Davis will most likely end up on the defensive side of the ball. Some see him as a safety, though his size and skill set would make him a good fit at cornerback as well. He's currently listed at the latter position by On3. "He's a weapon on the field," Imani Christian head coach LaRoi Johnson said. "You can look and see his playmak- ing ability all the way back to his fresh- man year. He's an elite playmaker. He can find the ball and make a play, and he knows what to do with it when the ball is in his hands. "I think that's the special thing about him. Throughout his entire career, whenever he's had an opportunity to make a play, that's what he's done. Ev- ery time he can make an impact on the game, he comes through. I think that just makes him so special. He always makes a play, no matter what position you put him in." Davis doesn't have the length that Penn State fans have become accus- tomed to seeing ever since Anthony Poindexter took over the safe- ties room in 2021. However, he's already taller than 5-10 junior King Mack and has shown over the years that he has an aggressive style of play. "I can see him doing a variety of things," Johnson said. "I think he has the instincts and the skill set to be a corner, but I think he's probably best used as a safety." Johnson said Davis reminds him of Tyrann Mathieu, an All-Amer- ica safety at LSU who developed into an All-Pro at the NFL level and is now with the New Orleans Saints. "He's never been afraid to get in there and make a tackle, but he also has the ability to cover," Johnson said. "He can cover tight ends or receivers, so that's why I think he'll transition best to safety." Davis missed some time with an el- bow injury during his sophomore sea- son. When he returned to action, he made more of an impact on defense than offense. Many players of his caliber would have been upset with those changes, but that wasn't how he approached it. In- stead, he focused on defense while also impacting the game on special teams. Davis has 8 kick- and punt-return touchdowns in his career. "He's grown tremendously with his leadership," Johnson said. "He's become more vocal and isn't afraid to express himself. He knows how to get guys pointed in the direction they need to get going. "David has always been an alpha male, and I think everybody under- stands that. He's a natural leader, and that's why his teammates gravitate to him." Davis is listed by On3 as the No. 279 overall prospect and No. 27 cornerback nationally, as well as the No. 8 player in Pennsylvania. ■ Pittsburgh Athlete Could Fill Numerous Roles At PSU RYA N S N Y D E R | RYA N . S N Y D E R @ O N 3 . C O M Davis was originally viewed as a running back at the college level but may be a better fit in the secondary when he arrives on campus next year. PHOTO BY RYAN SNYDER The "athlete" tab looms large with David Davis, because he's been projected at a cou- ple of different places during his recruitment. He originally came on the scene as a running back and was ranked pretty highly, but as time has gone on, I see him on the defensive side of the ball — cornerback or safety. Still, there's a reason why he's classified by some as an athlete. He does a little bit of every- thing on the field, including special teams, where he's been an impact player returning punts and kickoffs. It's an interesting pickup for Penn State in that he's another key in-state guy. The Nittany Lions have been very successful in Western Pennsylvania the past few years, and as Davis' commitment shows, assistant coach Terry Smith is continuing to get the job done in the Pittsburgh area. — Sean Fitz P L A Y E R E V A L U A T I O N COMMITMENT PROFILE DAVID DAVIS