Davis Shining in New Role with Defense
10/31/2023 10:05:00 AM | Football
“I’m just thankful for the opportunity to be here and showcase my talents. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” - Jasheen Davis
After splitting playing time at defensive end last season with Rondell Bothroyd, Wake Forest junior Jasheen Davis is flourishing in a full-time role, providing consistent pressure and drawing frequent double teams from opposing offensive lines.
"I can tell by the way they game plan against me and the way they block me sometimes, that I'm one of their priorities," Davis said. "They want to prevent me from making plays. I know I just need to be myself, and I'll play to the best of my abilities no matter what they have planned for me. I'll still be able to make plays and create havoc. When I do that, it's good for the defense."
Though Davis leads the team with 11.0 tackles for loss and in sacks with 5.5, there are times that his aggressiveness leads to opportunities for linebackers Jacob Roberts or Dylan Hazen to ultimately make the play. Roberts is second for the Demon Deacons with 5.0 sacks through the first eight contests.
"It's a team game," Davis said. "One man works for the other, and vice-versa. The defense is doing some good things so far this season, with it being the second year under (defensive coordinator) coach Lambert.
"We're more accustomed to his style of defense, so that allows me to play on the edge and not think about things too much. This year has started off good, but there's more to go and I'm excited to get better."
It was the non-stop motor Davis featured at Shiloh (Snellville, GA) High School that made him such a coveted prospect for Wake Forest defensive line coach Dave Cohen, and that ceaseless work ethic continues to show itself every Saturday.
"It's just a mindset," Davis said. "I've been playing football since I was 6-years old, so I've always had a love for the game. My motto is 'see ball, get ball.' No matter if the ball is one yard in front of me or 30 yards behind me, if I see it, I'm going to try to get it. It's just a mindset to always attack the ball.
"I know good things will happen if I'm around the ball. I always try to find my way toward the ball. Whether I make the play or not, if I'm close to the ball it's a good thing."
Davis is next in a long line of Wake Forest defensive ends who have flourished including Duke Ejiofor and Boogie Basham.
"Any time we've been good on the defensive line, we've had that one guy who is poison, is hard to block and makes plays," Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson said. "Jasheen last year, even though he was technically a two, had some games where he was that way. It's almost like when you're a backup and you do it, it's a bonus.
"When you're a starter, we need that. That position has always been our best defensive lineman. Jasheen has to be that guy for us."
Through the front half of the season, Davis had adjusted well to the additional workload and attention he's drawing from opposing offensive lines.
"Coming into this year, I knew I'd have a bigger role," he said. "I've just played to the best of my abilities so far to try to help out the team. I'm just thankful for the opportunity to be here and showcase my talents. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I'm just thankful for it."
As the Deacs work toward earning bowl eligibility this season for an eighth-consecutive campaign, Davis said the focus and energy continues to manifest itself in practice.
"Coach Cohen does a great job of pushing us each practice," he said. "Beyond football, life is hard. Some days don't go your way, but if you keep working hard and stay focused, they eventually will. Just because we're losing and not getting the outcomes we want, doesn't mean we should lower our heads and dwell on that.
"We have to push through, and we're going to continue to push through until we become victorious again. When that time comes, we're going to keep working. You can't get too high or too low. You have to stay level-headed and keep working."
Selecting Wake Forest as his collegiate destination over more than two dozen other offers because of the perfect mix of athletics and academics, Davis appreciates the opportunities he's had as a Demon Deacon.
"The best thing about Wake Forest is that we play great football but also have a top-tier education," he said. "I consider coach Cohen not just a football coach, but a life coach and a mentor. Coming to Wake Forest has been a blessing. They provide a lot of resources for me on the field and eventually for when it's time for me to hang up the cleats.
"I couldn't have made a better decision than coming to Wake Forest. I'm just thankful to be here and thankful that they saw the potential for me to be here."
"I can tell by the way they game plan against me and the way they block me sometimes, that I'm one of their priorities," Davis said. "They want to prevent me from making plays. I know I just need to be myself, and I'll play to the best of my abilities no matter what they have planned for me. I'll still be able to make plays and create havoc. When I do that, it's good for the defense."
Though Davis leads the team with 11.0 tackles for loss and in sacks with 5.5, there are times that his aggressiveness leads to opportunities for linebackers Jacob Roberts or Dylan Hazen to ultimately make the play. Roberts is second for the Demon Deacons with 5.0 sacks through the first eight contests.
"It's a team game," Davis said. "One man works for the other, and vice-versa. The defense is doing some good things so far this season, with it being the second year under (defensive coordinator) coach Lambert.
"We're more accustomed to his style of defense, so that allows me to play on the edge and not think about things too much. This year has started off good, but there's more to go and I'm excited to get better."
It was the non-stop motor Davis featured at Shiloh (Snellville, GA) High School that made him such a coveted prospect for Wake Forest defensive line coach Dave Cohen, and that ceaseless work ethic continues to show itself every Saturday.
"It's just a mindset," Davis said. "I've been playing football since I was 6-years old, so I've always had a love for the game. My motto is 'see ball, get ball.' No matter if the ball is one yard in front of me or 30 yards behind me, if I see it, I'm going to try to get it. It's just a mindset to always attack the ball.
"I know good things will happen if I'm around the ball. I always try to find my way toward the ball. Whether I make the play or not, if I'm close to the ball it's a good thing."
Davis is next in a long line of Wake Forest defensive ends who have flourished including Duke Ejiofor and Boogie Basham.
"Any time we've been good on the defensive line, we've had that one guy who is poison, is hard to block and makes plays," Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson said. "Jasheen last year, even though he was technically a two, had some games where he was that way. It's almost like when you're a backup and you do it, it's a bonus.
"When you're a starter, we need that. That position has always been our best defensive lineman. Jasheen has to be that guy for us."
Through the front half of the season, Davis had adjusted well to the additional workload and attention he's drawing from opposing offensive lines.
"Coming into this year, I knew I'd have a bigger role," he said. "I've just played to the best of my abilities so far to try to help out the team. I'm just thankful for the opportunity to be here and showcase my talents. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I'm just thankful for it."
As the Deacs work toward earning bowl eligibility this season for an eighth-consecutive campaign, Davis said the focus and energy continues to manifest itself in practice.
"Coach Cohen does a great job of pushing us each practice," he said. "Beyond football, life is hard. Some days don't go your way, but if you keep working hard and stay focused, they eventually will. Just because we're losing and not getting the outcomes we want, doesn't mean we should lower our heads and dwell on that.
"We have to push through, and we're going to continue to push through until we become victorious again. When that time comes, we're going to keep working. You can't get too high or too low. You have to stay level-headed and keep working."
Selecting Wake Forest as his collegiate destination over more than two dozen other offers because of the perfect mix of athletics and academics, Davis appreciates the opportunities he's had as a Demon Deacon.
"The best thing about Wake Forest is that we play great football but also have a top-tier education," he said. "I consider coach Cohen not just a football coach, but a life coach and a mentor. Coming to Wake Forest has been a blessing. They provide a lot of resources for me on the field and eventually for when it's time for me to hang up the cleats.
"I couldn't have made a better decision than coming to Wake Forest. I'm just thankful to be here and thankful that they saw the potential for me to be here."
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