Demario Davis

Demario Davis (born January 11, 1989) is an American football linebacker for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL).

He was drafted by the New York Jets in the third round of the 2012 NFL draft.

He played college football at Arkansas State.

Davis has also played for the Cleveland Browns.

Davis' mother gave birth to him when she was 16, and his father was a career enlisted soldier in the US Army and combat veteran.

Davis attended Brandon High School in Brandon, Mississippi, where he was a three-sport athlete in football, basketball, and track.

On March 27, 2012, he attended Arkansas State's pro day and chose to perform the 40-yard dash (4.52s), 20-yard dash (2.72s), 10-yard dash (1.63s), vertical jump (38.5"), and positional drills. At the conclusion of the pre-draft process, Davis was projected to be a third round pick by the majority of NFL draft experts and scouts. He was ranked as the ninth best outside linebacker prospect in the draft by DraftScout.com.

The New York Jets selected Davis in the third round (77th overall) of the 2012 NFL draft.

Davis was the tenth linebacker drafted in 2012.

On May 31, 2012, the Jets signed Davis to a four-year, $2.81 million contract with a signing bonus of $618,000.

Throughout training camp, Davis competed against veteran Bart Scott for the job as the starting weakside linebacker.

Head coach Rex Ryan named Davis the third-string backup weakside linebacker to start the regular season, behind Bart Scott and Josh Mauga.

He made his professional regular season debut in the Jets' season-opening 48–28 victory against the Buffalo Bills.

On September 23, 2012, Davis made his first career tackle during a one-yard punt return by Marcus Thigpen in the first quarter of a 23–20 overtime victory at the Miami Dolphins in Week 3.

In Week 6, Davis was promoted to the Jets' primary backup weakside linebacker role after Josh Mauga was placed on injured reserve after tearing a pectoral muscle the previous week.

On October 21, 2012, Davis earned his first career start in place of Bart Scott and recorded a season-high seven combined tackles during a 29–26 loss at the New England Patriots in Week 7.

He remained as the starting weakside linebacker for the next two games (Weeks 8–10) as Bart Scott recovered from a toe injury he sustained in Week 7.

He finished his rookie season in 2012 with 36 combined tackles (31 solo) and a fumble recovery in 16 games and three starts.

He registered 15 of his tackles while playing on special teams.

Davis entered training camp slated as a starting inside linebacker after the Jets' new defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman switched from a base 4–3 defense to a base 3–4 defense.

Head coach Rex Ryan named Davis and David Harris the starting inside linebackers to begin the regular season in 2013.

He started in the Jets' season-opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and recorded eight combined tackles in their 18–17 victory.

On September 22, 2013, Davis collected six combined tackles and made his first career sack during a 27–20 win against the Bills in Week 3.

He sacked quarterback E. J. Manuel for a three-yard loss in the third quarter.

On November 3, 2013, Davis made four tackles, deflected a pass, and made his first career interception during a 26–20 win against the New Orleans Saints in Week 9.

He intercepted a pass thrown by quarterback Drew Brees that was originally intended for Benjamin Watson and was tackled for no gain in the first quarter.

In Week 13, he collected a season-high ten combined tackles (six solo) in the Jets' 23–3 loss to the Dolphins.

He finished the season with 107 combined tackles (63 solo), a pass deflection, a sack, and an interception in 16 games and 16 starts.

In football, he played mostly wide receiver as sophomore and junior, helping lead the team to its 14th playoff appearance in the last 16 years with a 7–5 record.

As a senior, he recorded 81 tackles, six interceptions and one sack, while also receiving over 30 passes for 386 receiving yards with four scores.

He was also a starter on the Brandon basketball team and competed as a high jumper with the varsity track & field team.

He was named to the Clarion Ledger All-Metro team in football.

Davis played college football for the Arkansas State Red Wolves.

He recorded a team-leading 80 tackles as a sophomore and earned various all-conference honors in his junior and senior years.

Davis attended the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana and completed all of the combine and positional drills.

Head coach Rex Ryan retained Davis and David Harris as the starting inside linebackers to begin the 2014 season, along with outside linebackers Calvin Pace and Quinton Coples.

On September 14, 2014, Davis recorded six combined tackles and sacked quarterback Aaron Rodgers twice in the Jets' 31–24 loss at the Green Bay Packers in Week 2.

In Week 10, he collected a season-high 12 combined tackles (11 solo) and broke up a pass during a 20–13 victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

It was his fourth game with over ten combined tackles in 2014.

He finished his third season with 116 combined tackles (79 solo), five pass deflections, and 3.5 sacks in 16 games and 16 starts.