D.J. Davidson is a sufficient-level athlete for a bigger young man, with sufficient agility and lateral mobility. In the passing game, he has sufficient value. He lacks good quickness to take advantage when he is shaded over a lineman. He is primarily a power rusher who can occasionally generate pressure by disengaging. In the run game, he is hard to move. He holds the point of attack against single blocks and double teams. He has good functional strength to disengage and get to the football. He has schematic versatility to play in an even or odd front, but will likely be most effective as an early-down player.

Ideal Role: Early-down rotational defender

Scheme Fit: He can play in an even or odd front

FILM EVALUATION

Written by Drae Harris

Games watched: USC (2021), CAL (2021), ASU (2021), Arizona (2021)

Best Game Studied: Arizona (2021)

Worst Game Studied: USC (2021)

First Step Explosion: He is strong but not explosive. His get-off is sufficient. He is not a twitchy athlete but can get off the ball for a bigger man.

Flexibility: He is overall flexibility is sufficient. He generally plays with good pad level. This helps him fight double teams when he keeps his pads low.

Hand Counter: Using his hands to counter is not a strength of his game. After using his power rush, he should have the functional strength to disengage and get to the football.

Hand Power: He has good power in his hands. He does a good job holding the point of attack and is hard to move with single blocks. He can disengage and find the football.

Run Defending: He has more value on early downs as a run defender at this stage.

Effort: He’s been inconsistent with his effort throughout the game. This may be due to conditioning. When plays are run away from him and are out of his vicinity, he can shut it down.

Football IQ: He displays good football IQ. He can locate the ball-carrier while he is engaged. He isn’t fooled often by misdirection plays.

Lateral Mobility: He has average lateral agility. This is evident after he disengages and finds the ball-carrier. When plays are out of his vicinity he can sufficiently get through trash to locate the ball.

Core/Functional Strength: He displays good functional strength. His good power allows him to disengage and get to the football.

Versatility: He lacks true positional versatility. He plays IDL and should remain there in an even or odd front scheme. He has limited value as an end in any front.

SCOUT GRADES

Harris Grade: 69.00/100 (Sixth Round Value)