Wake Forest Athletics
Deacon Sports Xtra: Week One Was Just the Beginning for Jasheen Davis
9/14/2021 9:00:00 AM | Football, Les Johns
The second-year freshman earned ACC Co-Rookie of the Week honors after an impressive start against Old Dominion.
Wake Forest second-year freshman Jasheen Davis was a force through all of spring and fall camp, and then he went on the field and produced in the first game of the season against Old Dominion — earning ACC Co-Rookie of the Week after grabbing a team-leading nine tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks against the Monarchs.
"I was obviously a little nervous and anxious, but also excited," Davis said. "I've put in a lot of work during the offseason. When it came to the game, it felt like my time to shine. As the game progressed, I settled in."
Entering his first start, Davis listened to some R&B music and internalized some positive reinforcement from defensive end teammate Rondell Bothroyd.
"Rondell told me to be the player I am," Davis said. "He reminded me that I dominated through all of fall camp, so just go out and be the player I know I can be. He told me to go out there and play like I'm the best player on the field."
Always a student of the game, Davis is constantly seeking ways to add moves to his proverbial toolbox. He watched a lot of college football, and seeks guidance from those who have come before him at Wake Forest.
"I learned a lot from Boogie (Basham)," Davis said. "I mean, he's playing in the league now. I just took my pen and pad and wrote down the things he did and thought about. I still ask him to this day about moves."
Basham texted Davis after the Deacs defeated Old Dominion 42-10.
"Congrats," the text read. "Time to get better."
And the latter is probably even more important than the former, as Davis continues his first full season in the rotation at defensive end.
"He made a lot of plays, but he also had a lot of assignment busts, which you expect in a game one," Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson said. "Sometimes a receiver can catch two touchdowns, but they don't grade out well. He's going to make plays. It's great that he was out there, had success and made plays. But he also had some busts.
"There were times where there were some things we gave up because maybe he wasn't in the right gap. That's going to happen in game one. It's great that he had some success. Hopefully, he has some confidence. But he, like everybody, there's things he needs to clean up. He handled himself, but he'll tell you he didn't play a clean game."
There was a time early in the game when he slid right by the Old Dominion quarterback, with a chance for a sack just beyond his fingertips.
"He slipped through my hands," Davis lamented. "It's a team game. Whatever I didn't make, the team helped finish. I wanted to get the sack, but live to fight another week."
Davis, who saw the field near the end of the 2020 season, always dreamed of playing on the big stage.
"I used to watch college football on TV all the time. Being actually in a college football game in front of real fans was a blessing. I didn't know that I'd ever make it to here."
Now that he's got game one under his belt, Davis is focused on continuing to improve each and every week.
"Being in college now has motivated me even more," he said. "Now that I've achieved one goal, it's time to time to complete the other one and make it to the league.
"You have to be humble. That's just one game. I can get better next week. The guy with the best mentality is always going to come out on top, and that's what I'm trying to be."
But if week one production against the Monarchs is any indication, Davis looks to be living up to the hype he generated during spring and fall camp.
"If everyone had the motor Jasheen has, we'd be really good," Wake Forest defensive line coach Dave Cohen said. "Now, he has to continue to get better, but his motor is what sets him apart from everyone else. He plays from snap through the whistle like you'd want."
"I was obviously a little nervous and anxious, but also excited," Davis said. "I've put in a lot of work during the offseason. When it came to the game, it felt like my time to shine. As the game progressed, I settled in."
Entering his first start, Davis listened to some R&B music and internalized some positive reinforcement from defensive end teammate Rondell Bothroyd.
"Rondell told me to be the player I am," Davis said. "He reminded me that I dominated through all of fall camp, so just go out and be the player I know I can be. He told me to go out there and play like I'm the best player on the field."
Always a student of the game, Davis is constantly seeking ways to add moves to his proverbial toolbox. He watched a lot of college football, and seeks guidance from those who have come before him at Wake Forest.
"I learned a lot from Boogie (Basham)," Davis said. "I mean, he's playing in the league now. I just took my pen and pad and wrote down the things he did and thought about. I still ask him to this day about moves."
Basham texted Davis after the Deacs defeated Old Dominion 42-10.
"Congrats," the text read. "Time to get better."
And the latter is probably even more important than the former, as Davis continues his first full season in the rotation at defensive end.
"He made a lot of plays, but he also had a lot of assignment busts, which you expect in a game one," Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson said. "Sometimes a receiver can catch two touchdowns, but they don't grade out well. He's going to make plays. It's great that he was out there, had success and made plays. But he also had some busts.
"There were times where there were some things we gave up because maybe he wasn't in the right gap. That's going to happen in game one. It's great that he had some success. Hopefully, he has some confidence. But he, like everybody, there's things he needs to clean up. He handled himself, but he'll tell you he didn't play a clean game."
There was a time early in the game when he slid right by the Old Dominion quarterback, with a chance for a sack just beyond his fingertips.
"He slipped through my hands," Davis lamented. "It's a team game. Whatever I didn't make, the team helped finish. I wanted to get the sack, but live to fight another week."
Davis, who saw the field near the end of the 2020 season, always dreamed of playing on the big stage.
"I used to watch college football on TV all the time. Being actually in a college football game in front of real fans was a blessing. I didn't know that I'd ever make it to here."
Now that he's got game one under his belt, Davis is focused on continuing to improve each and every week.
"Being in college now has motivated me even more," he said. "Now that I've achieved one goal, it's time to time to complete the other one and make it to the league.
"You have to be humble. That's just one game. I can get better next week. The guy with the best mentality is always going to come out on top, and that's what I'm trying to be."
But if week one production against the Monarchs is any indication, Davis looks to be living up to the hype he generated during spring and fall camp.
"If everyone had the motor Jasheen has, we'd be really good," Wake Forest defensive line coach Dave Cohen said. "Now, he has to continue to get better, but his motor is what sets him apart from everyone else. He plays from snap through the whistle like you'd want."
Players Mentioned
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