Scouting Report and Highlights: Gators Safety Commit Josiah Davis

What kind of skill set will the newest Gators commit, safety Josiah Davis, bring to the University of Florida?

Florida has added their first commit in the secondary for the 2024 class in safety Josiah Davis when he announced his pledge on Monday afternoon. 

He chose the Gators over several offers from programs in the southeast, including Kentucky, Louisville, NC State and Tennessee, who made up the top five he released on Saturday.

Davis is the fifth Florida commit of the cycle. he joins a commitment class containing quarterback DJ Lagway, running back Chauncey Bowens, linebacker Myles Graham and linebacker Adarius Hayes.

To get a better look at the Berrien High School talent, All Gators provides a brief scouting report on what he will bring to the table at the next level.

As a versatile athlete with reps working in all three phases of the game, Davis aligns with the length, speed and fluidity secondary coach Corey Raymond looks for when targeting prospects for the next level.

While Davis is listed as a safety, the vast majority of his film is on the offensive side of the ball so there is a lot of projection when it comes to Davis’ fit at the next level. However, what you see from him on offense can certainly translate over to the other side of the ball.

Davis displays an impressive burst when playing from his primary wildcat QB position. He sees the hole and hits it hard. Once he gets to the second level, he has enough extra gear to take it the distance at any time, and you see that several times on tape.

Defensively, Davis is able to use that burst and speed to break on passes and come downhill quickly.

His calling card on the defensive side of the ball is his surefire tackling ability. Despite working toward the line of scrimmage in a hurry, he doesn't allow his quick twitch nature to allow him to get out of control. He breaks down well and keeps the opposing player in front of him to make the tackle. 

His 70-tackle season as a junior is indicative of that prowess.

However, the aspect of his game that might be the best comes on special teams as a return man. Davis’ numbers were as good as anyone in the country amassing an impressive seven return touchdowns last year for an eye-popping 51 yards per return. Those numbers are unheard of at any level. 

His film is reminiscent of former Gators signee and current SMU cornerback Jahari Rogers, who had a solid season for the Mustangs in 2022, picking off two passes.

Overall, Davis accounted for 23 touchdowns as a junior — 12 rushing, one passing, two receiving, one interception return and seven on special teams — showcasing his dynamic playmaking ability and nose for the end zone when the ball is in his hands. That's a quality that will certainly be valued by secondary coach Corey Raymond and new defensive coordinator Austin Armstrong in his aggressive style of play calling. 

While he may begin as a project piece on the backend, Davis is a high-upside piece who Raymond will look to mold into a three-down piece in the Florida backend at the peak of his career.

It may not be a flashy grab from a rankings perspective, but Davis shows the athletic capacity to be a valuable contributor to the Gators' defense in the future. 

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