5. Raekwon Davis, DE/DT
There probably wasn’t a player on Alabama’s roster who had a more disappointing season in 2018 than Raekwon Davis. He entered the season as a projected top-10 NFL Draft pick for 2019, and he played himself out of the first round altogether.
The hype surrounding Davis stemmed from an outstanding sophomore season that saw him rack up 10 tackles for loss that included 8.5 sacks. Another jump was expected during his junior season, but he regressed substantially. He managed just 5.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks despite being healthy all season.
Part of the issue stemmed from the Tide’s lack of depth on the defensive line. Behind the starters of Davis, Quinnen Williams, and Isaiah Buggs, Alabama had little in the way of quality depth behind them, forcing that trio to play a significant amount of snaps. That should be cleared up this season, if spring practice was any indication.
Davis decided to return for his senior season, hoping a strong 2019 campaign could boost his stock back into the first round range. It certainly could, as Davis has outstanding size and athleticism that has the attention of NFL scouts.
Davis stands at 6-foot-7 and 316 pounds, and he moves very well for a player that size. He plays defensive end in Alabama’s base 3-4 defense, but he projects as a likely 3-technique defensive tackle in a 4-3 in the NFL, a spot where his speed and power could maximize his production.
Davis is also taking on more of a leadership role as one of the lone seniors on the defensive two-deep. With his measurables, a quality senior season is all that stands between him and being a sure-fire first round pick.