
Notre Dame commit, son of former UGA All-American visiting Georgia football
Notre Dame commit, son of former UGA All-American visiting Georgia football
Four-star linebacker recruit Thomas Davis Jr., who has been committed to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish since November, is visiting the Georgia Bulldogs this weekend. Davis Jr. is the son of legendary Georgia football safety Thomas Davis Sr.
Coach Kirby Smart and Georgia are the school that is most likely to flip Davis Jr. The Bulldogs recently extended a scholarship offer to Davis Jr. and have a strong pitch to make for the talented linebacker prospect.
Georgia has developed the linebacker position better than any other school in the country in recent years. UGA produced two linebackers as first-round picks in the 2025 NFL draft in Jalon Walker and Mykel Williams (arguably a defensive end) and has had nine linebackers (includes Williams and Robert Beal) selected over the past five NFL drafts.
Georgia also helped develop Davis Jr.'s father, Thomas Davis Sr., into a first-round draft pick during the Mark Richt era. Davis Sr. played safety at Georgia from 2002-2004, but changed positions to linebacker in the NFL and flourished. In 13 seasons with the Carolina Panthers, Davis Sr. played and made three Pro Bowl appearances and helped the Panthers reach the Super Bowl in 2015. At Georgia, he was selected to the All-SEC first team in 2003 and 2004 and earned a consensus All-American selection in 2004.
Thomas Davis Jr. recruiting ranking
Davis Jr. has the talent to make a name for himself. He plays for Weddington High School, which is located in Matthews, North Carolina.
Davis Jr. is the No. 176 prospect in the class of 2026. He is the No. 11 linebacker in the nation and the No. 11 recruit in North Carolina. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound linebacker is a versatile athlete that runs track and plays basketball in addition to playing football. He's exactly the type of linebacker that Georgia inside linebackers coach and co-defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann is looking for.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
22 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Packers' Keisean Nixon now says he remains open to possibility of returning kickoffs
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Green Bay Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon remains open to the possibility of returning kickoffs and says he regrets comments he made immediately after the 2024 season indicating otherwise. Nixon, an All-Pro kickoff returner in 2022 and 2023, said the day after the Packers' 22-10 playoff loss to the Philadelphia Eagles that he's 'kind of through with' returning kicks. Nixon had a different take on the subject Tuesday while speaking during the Packers' organized team activities. Advertisement 'Of course, I'm open to it,' Nixon said. 'I'm always going to do what the team needs.' Nixon's reluctance about returning kicks stemmed in part because of his increasing role on defense. Nixon said at the time that 'I want to be CB1' and added that 'CB1 is not doing kick returns. That's just what it is.' 'That's a comment I probably could have kept to myself, for sure, but it is what it is,' Nixon said Tuesday. 'I meant what I said, but I'm also a team player. And if the coach and the team need me to do something, I'm going to do it, for sure.' Nixon also wasn't happy with the impact of the dynamic kickoff format that took effect last season. Nixon averaged 29.3 yards on 18 kickoff returns in the 2024 regular season and fumbled the opening kickoff of that playoff loss. He had 35 kickoff returns in 2022 and 30 in 2023. Advertisement NFL owners voted to move touchbacks on kickoffs from the 30 to the 35 this season, but Nixon has doubts about whether that will lead to more returns. He believes teams still won't want to risk the possibility that he makes a big play. 'The rule change don't matter,' Nixon said. 'I don't think they'll fully kick me the ball. They'd rather (us) get it at the 35 than give it at the 50.' The Packers have other options to return kicks. Green Bay added former Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman, who has 45 career kick returns and 89 punt returns. The two receivers Green Bay drafted – Matthew Golden in the first round and Savion Williams in the third – had experience returning kicks in college. Nixon wants to build on what he accomplished on defense last year. Advertisement His role expanded when two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander played just seven games because of injuries to his knee, quadriceps and groin. Alexander remains on Green Bay's roster, but isn't present for organized team activities as his future with the team remains uncertain. 'I love to play with Jaire,' Nixon said. 'That's just what it is since I've been here. Jaire pushed me to be really who I am because it's always friendly competition between me and him. Whatever happens, happens. We don't have control over that. If he's here, we're going to rock out. If he's not, we're still going to rock out.' Whether or not Alexander plays for the Packers this season, Nixon figures to have major responsibilities on defense again. After most of his previous defensive snaps came as a nickel, Nixon showed an ability to adapt to a new assignment last year. 'To his credit, he's shown a lot of versatility, you know, in terms of how we've used him in the past, switching him from inside to outside,' coach Matt LaFleur said. 'I think he did a lot of great things last year, primarily playing on the outside.' Advertisement The 27-year-old Nixon believes he still has plenty of room to grow as he enters his seventh NFL season since he played so little defense early in his career. Nixon started his career with Oakland in 2019 and never played more than 15% of the Raiders' defensive snaps in any of his three seasons with them before joining the Packers in 2022. He played 94.1% of Green Bay's defensive snaps last season. 'I don't feel like I'm an old guy yet,' Nixon said. 'I'm in year seven, but my body feels like I'm on year four. Because with the Raiders, I don't feel like I was really on the team, for real. I was just making money, I guess. It's just what it was. When I got here, I feel like I was a rookie.' NOTES: DL Kenny Clark said he underwent surgery on his right foot after the season as he dealt with bunions and bone spurs. Clark, who has been limited in OTAs, says he injured the foot during the Packers' season-opening loss to the Eagles in Brazil. … DL Lukas Van Ness said he wore a full cast up until 'about week 10 or 11' while playing with a broken right thumb last year. ___ AP NFL:

Associated Press
27 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Packers' Keisean Nixon now says he remains open to possibility of returning kickoffs
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Green Bay Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon remains open to the possibility of returning kickoffs and says he regrets comments he made immediately after the 2024 season indicating otherwise. Nixon, an All-Pro kickoff returner in 2022 and 2023, said the day after the Packers' 22-10 playoff loss to the Philadelphia Eagles that he's 'kind of through with' returning kicks. Nixon had a different take on the subject Tuesday while speaking during the Packers' organized team activities. 'Of course, I'm open to it,' Nixon said. 'I'm always going to do what the team needs.' Nixon's reluctance about returning kicks stemmed in part because of his increasing role on defense. Nixon said at the time that 'I want to be CB1' and added that 'CB1 is not doing kick returns. That's just what it is.' 'That's a comment I probably could have kept to myself, for sure, but it is what it is,' Nixon said Tuesday. 'I meant what I said, but I'm also a team player. And if the coach and the team need me to do something, I'm going to do it, for sure.' Nixon also wasn't happy with the impact of the dynamic kickoff format that took effect last season. Nixon averaged 29.3 yards on 18 kickoff returns in the 2024 regular season and fumbled the opening kickoff of that playoff loss. He had 35 kickoff returns in 2022 and 30 in 2023. NFL owners voted to move touchbacks on kickoffs from the 30 to the 35 this season, but Nixon has doubts about whether that will lead to more returns. He believes teams still won't want to risk the possibility that he makes a big play. 'The rule change don't matter,' Nixon said. 'I don't think they'll fully kick me the ball. They'd rather (us) get it at the 35 than give it at the 50.' The Packers have other options to return kicks. Green Bay added former Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman, who has 45 career kick returns and 89 punt returns. The two receivers Green Bay drafted – Matthew Golden in the first round and Savion Williams in the third – had experience returning kicks in college. Nixon wants to build on what he accomplished on defense last year. His role expanded when two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander played just seven games because of injuries to his knee, quadriceps and groin. Alexander remains on Green Bay's roster, but isn't present for organized team activities as his future with the team remains uncertain. 'I love to play with Jaire,' Nixon said. 'That's just what it is since I've been here. Jaire pushed me to be really who I am because it's always friendly competition between me and him. Whatever happens, happens. We don't have control over that. If he's here, we're going to rock out. If he's not, we're still going to rock out.' Whether or not Alexander plays for the Packers this season, Nixon figures to have major responsibilities on defense again. After most of his previous defensive snaps came as a nickel, Nixon showed an ability to adapt to a new assignment last year. 'To his credit, he's shown a lot of versatility, you know, in terms of how we've used him in the past, switching him from inside to outside,' coach Matt LaFleur said. 'I think he did a lot of great things last year, primarily playing on the outside.' The 27-year-old Nixon believes he still has plenty of room to grow as he enters his seventh NFL season since he played so little defense early in his career. Nixon started his career with Oakland in 2019 and never played more than 15% of the Raiders' defensive snaps in any of his three seasons with them before joining the Packers in 2022. He played 94.1% of Green Bay's defensive snaps last season. 'I don't feel like I'm an old guy yet,' Nixon said. 'I'm in year seven, but my body feels like I'm on year four. Because with the Raiders, I don't feel like I was really on the team, for real. I was just making money, I guess. It's just what it was. When I got here, I feel like I was a rookie.' NOTES: DL Kenny Clark said he underwent surgery on his right foot after the season as he dealt with bunions and bone spurs. Clark, who has been limited in OTAs, says he injured the foot during the Packers' season-opening loss to the Eagles in Brazil. … DL Lukas Van Ness said he wore a full cast up until 'about week 10 or 11' while playing with a broken right thumb last year. ___ AP NFL:
Yahoo
40 minutes ago
- Yahoo
3 Broncos hidden gems on 2025 roster you need to know
The post 3 Broncos hidden gems on 2025 roster you need to know appeared first on ClutchPoints. One player for the Denver Broncos is unhappy about his Pro Football Focus rating, while another player hopes for increased attention in the offense. Adding to the mix this season, here are three Broncos hidden gems you need to know on the 2025 roster. Advertisement Denver has big-time aspirations for the upcoming season. Super Bowl dreams are even part of the agenda. And players who step up from the background can help push the team toward lofty goals. One of the players in the mix is left tackle Garett Bolles, who is on the fringes of no longer being a hidden gem. But rather one very visible to NFL eyes. Broncos OT Garett Bolles is emerging Denny Medley-Imagn Images It has been four years since Bolles received postseason recognition. And that 2020 second-team All-Pro selection for now stands as an outlier. Things could change this season, according to 'Bolles is still waiting for his first Pro Bowl nod, but he was seventh among tackles in pass block win rate last season (93.4%) and 13th in 2023 (91.6%),' Aaron Schatz wrote. 'His only problem might be the flags, as he was fifth among linemen last season with 15 total penalties (including declined or offsetting).' Advertisement The Broncos made him happy in December by signing him to a four-year contract extension, according to 'This is a dream come true,' Bolles said Thursday. 'I grew up in this city. I became a man in this city as a football player, as a husband. And (to) get to be here long term with my family, it means the world to me. I'm just so grateful for the (Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group) — and what an amazing ownership group we have.' And Bolles said he longs to be part of a postseason resurgence for the proud franchise. 'All I wanted to do was win here, and win at the highest level,' Bolles said. 'And play in the biggest games in the biggest moments with the biggest stars and the brightest lights. Just the culture that we have here for so many years now. It's awesome to be where we're at. It's not over, it's not done. We still have a lot of work to do. But, we're putting people in the right positions to be successful.' Broncos RB R.J. Harvey turning heads If you listen only to Pro Football Focus, you will sleep on Harvey. PFF didn't list him among their top 32 running backs for 2025. Advertisement Four other rookies made the list, but Harvey could have a similar opportunity to Ashton Jeanty, Omarion Hampton, Quinshon Judkins, and TreVeyon Henderson. Broncos quarterback Bo Nix said Harvey is already putting in the effort, according to 'He's done a really good job working,' quarterback Bo Nix said. 'He does a good job out of the backfield. It's hard to tell with shorts and a shirt what it's like running the ball with no pads, but that's obviously why we got him. 'You know he can run the ball, but I think it's the other things that he's showing. Just the routes, [his] suddenness and quickness in his hands. I think all that's really good to see, but he's a great guy, first and foremost, then I think it's going to translate for him being a successful player.' Advertisement And praise rings in from former NFL running back Chase Edmonds, according to 'I absolutely love this guy,' Edmonds said. 'You talk about juice, you talk about the ability to get skinny, get back out to the outside. Broncos Country, let me tell you something right now: Get your Kool-Aid ready, because this brother is bringing the juice.' Broncos TE Claeb Lohner might be a steal The Broncos grabbed Lohner in the seventh round, but that hasn't stopped Sean Payton's excitement about the player's potential, according to Sports Illustrated. 'You see traits, you see movements,' Payton said. 'I'm not a big fan of the Big 12 Pro Day because a player like him gets six routes instead of 20 that he would get at his own Pro Day. So hopefully that's going away, but there are two or three clips where I'm like, 'Play it again. Play it again.' Then, when you watch him, and you watch him move, and even in our first two days here. People bring up Jimmy [Graham]. Now, Jimmy was a third-round pick. I get it, but there were some similarities in that.' Advertisement But Payton said it's a work in progress, too. 'We have to coach and develop,' Payton said. 'In other words, if it was already present when you watch him, and you guys see him, and shake his hand and stand next to him, like, 'Holy cow.' There are traits there that excite me. Then, just visiting with him, and his intentionality, and his excitement about it. I'm excited to watch it.'