Michigan football hosts JUCO defensive tackle Jelani Davis on a visit
Michigan coaches continue to their quest to bolster the defensive line this spring. As previously reported, Central Florida transfer Cam Goode will visit in the near future. The Wolverines also hosted a junior college transfer yesterday in Jelani Davis.
RELATED
Michigan football: Several DBs impressing coordinator Jesse Minter
Michigan football to get visit from big transfer defensive tackle
Davis plays at Dodge City (Kansas) Community College. He’s originally from St. Louis, where he played at Ladue Horton Watkins High School.
The 6-1, 295-pound Davis notched seven solo tackles and seven assists in six games a year ago, a big run stopper. He registered four tackles for loss (eight yards) and a sack among his stops last year.
Davis visited Illinois last fall, but didn’t pick up an offer.
New Michigan defensive coordinator Jesse Minter said recently he likes what he has. At the same time, he’s looking at Goode, Davis and others to add talented depth.
“There are pieces there. There are guys that have played and played a good amount of snaps, like [tackle] Mazi [Smith] … and guys that haven’t maybe played as much but have sat behind high level players for a couple years,” he said. “You hope those guys make the same jump that Ojabo made when he hadn’t played before. I think that’s natural in college football — that guys progress.”
Head coach Jim Harbaugh already talked about Mike Morris earlier this spring, noting he could be the ‘next Ojabo or Hutchinson.’ Veteran Kris Jenkins played a lot last year and has had a good spring, per rumblings, while second-year frosh Rayshaun Benny is also opening eyes.
Youngster George Rooks has been getting to the quarterback this spring, and it’s possible Michigan will add one or more tackles, too. Central Florida’s Cam Goode will visit (we think he ends up in Ann Arbor). He could add some pressure from the interior, which would be more than welcome. Minter has a lot to replace when it comes to pass rush, and he could need to get creative.
In that sense, expect the defense to look at least somewhat different this fall. They’ll continue to look for depth, and Davis could fit the bill.
