The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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AUGUST 2025 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 43 ❱ COMMIT PROFILE BY ETHAN MCDOWELL T itan Davis took a low-key approach to his recruitment. The blue-chip prospect stayed out of the spotlight, and that quiet journey led him to Michigan. Penn State, USC, Nebraska and es- pecially Alabama all tried to sway him from the Wolverines, but U-M built a steady wave of momentum with the Ri- vals 300 defensive lineman that rose to new heights this summer. He took two official visits and shut down his recruitment after visiting Michigan for Victors Weekend. The St. Louis De Smet Jesuit standout is the No. 103 overall in the Rivals Industry Ranking (and No. 111 per Rivals' own scouts), but he announced the news with little fanfare. Michigan caught his at- tention early, and Davis' mother, Jessica Johnson, could see the genuine interest from his first trip to Ann Arbor last fall. "I tell everybody Titan is a quiet guy," Johnson told Rivals' Steve Wiltfong earlier this spring. "He's not going to be posting and bragging. Even when he goes to game days he's not the type of kid to take out his phone and take pictures and videos. The videos that came across and he sent from that game-day visit, I knew that was spe- cial for him. I knew he hadn't done that at any other visit or game day. I know he was excited for me to get there." Johnson could tell her son enjoyed that trip. Michigan offered the coveted lineman in the spring of his sophomore year while his recruitment was blowing up to include scholarships from Oregon, Oklahoma, Auburn and many others. The momentum around the Wolver- ines really started to build after his first game-day visit at The Big House. Mich- igan's history of producing NFL-caliber defensive linemen worked in the pro- gram's favor, too. Defensive line coach Lou Esposito was his primary recruiter. "Michigan definitely stands out now that I have been down there," Davis told Rivals' Chad Simmons last fall. "I like the culture there and the strong defense they have. They have also done a great job de- veloping defensive linemen the past couple of years, so I like that about Michigan too." Davis and his mother visited Ann Ar- bor again in March and shared a very positive review of the experience. John- son felt the genuine nature of Michi- gan's recruitment pitch and said the overall culture would be tough to beat. "After the visit I told Titan this place stamps all the boxes, not just checks them," Johnson said. "It's solid in all the areas that are important." Alabama certainly kept his recruit- ment interesting down the stretch. He officially visited the Crimson Tide May 30. Davis previously locked in a full official visit schedule but, after that trip to Tuscaloosa, he canceled all other travel plans other than Victors Weekend with the Wolverines. Michigan built a great connection with the lineman and his family and, just one day after he left Ann Arbor, the 6-foot-4, 262-pound defensive lineman announced his pledge to the Wolverines. He's the second-highest-ranked recruit in the program's 2026 class according to the Rivals Industry Ranking (No. 103), which also lists him as the No. 10 defen- sive lineman nationally, consistent with his No. 11 ranking per Rivals' own scouts. "At the end of the day you want to be around people that care about Titan Davis the person," Johnson said. "One thing that stood out about the visit we haven't experienced elsewhere is the fellowship. They took the time for the coaches and staff to let their hair down and enjoy people for who they are." The Wolverines fit what Davis was looking for in his future collegiate home. It started with that first game visit and snowballed into a summer commitment. "I just like their style of play, espe- cially on the defensive line," Davis, a first-team Class 6 (largest schools) all- state pick as a junior, said after his first trip to Ann Arbor. "It is a blue-collar atmosphere too and that made an im- pression on me." ❑ St. Louis Standout Defensive Lineman Titan Davis Goes Blue PLAYER EVALUATION STRENGTHS: Titan Davis is an active interior defensive lineman. He makes a lot of plays behind the line of scrimmage. He plays for one of the top high school programs in the state of Missouri. I like that he can win in a phone booth. … He does a good job of finding ball carriers in the backfield. He plays with good vision, active hands and good technique. There is a lot to like about Titan Davis. He's been high in our rankings over the past year. He moves well, and I think the film is good. We haven't seen him in-person, so we're looking forward to that. But he's a nice pickup for Michigan. He can provide some pass-rushing juice and quickness on the interior. AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT: He's not the biggest or heaviest defensive lineman, but he punches above his weight based on the play strength. PLAYER COMPARISON: Former Texas and NFL defensive lineman Hassan Ridgeway. — Rivals' director of scouting and rankings Charles Power Davis in the No. 2 player in Missouri, and the No. 10 defensive lineman and No. 103 overall pros- pect in the nation per the Rivals Industry Rankings. PHOTO BY CHAD SIMMONS/RIVALS