2017 NFL Draft Profile: Jarrad Davis

Jarrad Davis, Florida
6-1, 238
Davis was a four year player at Florida, and is praised as being one of the high character players that NFL scouts love.
He played in every game as a freshman, including on special teams. He finished that season with 24 tackles, two TFLs, one PBU, and one forced fumble.
As a sophomore, he played in just nine games, as he missed three games with injury. He finished that season with 23 tackles, one TFL, and three QB hurries.
He was a full time starter in 2015, and recorded 98 tackles, 11 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, four PBUs, seven QB hurries, a forced fumble, and an INT.
He missed significant time again in 2016 with a lower leg injury, playing in just nine games. He finished the season with 60 tackles, six TFLs, two sacks, four PBUs, and five QB hurries.
He finished 2016 as a second team ALL-SEC pick despite the missed time.
The Good
Well built, with long arms.
Plays with excellent body control and ability.
Plays with excellent pursuit speed, and is a rangy player, with the ability to get all over the field.
Known as a real team leader on and off of the field.
Explodes out of the snap, and keeps his pads low and his head high.
Punishes blockers in contact.
Has a severe nasty streak on the field.
Has excellent approach technique to the tackle, and does not take on strange angles.
Turns on another gear on a flip of the switch.
One of the better run defenders available.
Disruptive in the gaps.
Can cover the TE in the passing game.
The Bad
Lost two significant parts of seasons due to injury. Tried to play through it last season, and got hurt again.
Can get lost in traffic, and will sometimes over pursue the target.
Can come at blockers occasionally high, and will trust his power too much at times.
Does not always read an offense as well as he can.
Hand work must improve at next level.
Gets tied up to often by blockers.
Final Overview
In some ways, I like him better than Watt, but not in all ways, and so he slides to my second spot among the OLBs in this class. He is a high character guy, which sells big, and it should. He will be a vocal team leader on and off of the field, and that is awesome.
Davis needs to do a better job in the film room to become a better identifier of information on the field of play, and he needs to learn how to play with more physical control. He reminds me of a young Brian Cox or Junior Seau, two massively talented LBs who tended to play a bit too wild early in their careers. They ironed it out, and so will Davis.