Utah Football’s Jeilani Davis Making Strides In Year Two
Apr 15, 2025, 1:45 PM | Updated: 3:10 pm
Utah safety Jeilani Davis. Photo courtesy of Utah Athletics.
SALT LAKE CITY—Utah football’s second-year safety Jeilani Davis is growing more comfortable with the program.
Davis is a promising safety who will be looking to step up for Morgan Scalley this year.
As the end of spring ball nears, Davis recognizes the growth but knows there’s plenty of work to do.
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— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) April 9, 2025
Jeilani Davis is taking every opportunity to improve
“The word I like to use is ‘blessed’ and just thankful for the opportunity, and every day presents new opportunities to get better on and off the field,” Jeilani Davis said.
The second-year safety is looking to make the sort of progress to insert himself into the rotation. Davis knows that he’ll need to continue to work on all aspects of his game to achieve that.
“On and off the field, things like the film room, reps on the practice field, after practice, just trying to grow more comfortable in all aspects of my game,” Davis shared.
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Davis feels more comfortable going into year two with Utah football
As Davis prepares for his second season with the program, he feels much more comfortable than he did a year ago. Thanks in large part to acclimating to the mental demands at this level of football.
“That first year, you try to get a feel for how everything is going to go,” Davis shared. “The speed picks up a little bit, and it’s more of a mental task when you get to this level, and adjusting to that aspect is a process.”
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As he’s worked throughout spring ball, Davis has recognized where he’s grown the most.
“Trusting my technique and trusting the program,” Davis shared. “Getting my mind strengthened and prepared for this year has been fun.”
With the work he’s put into his game, he’s grown more comfortable with his execution. However, there are still things Davis isn’t fully comfortable within his game, and he knows that at some point, he’ll have to perform regardless of his comfort level.
“As much as I am growing comfortable with the program and everything becoming second nature, I’m still working on those areas of my game where I’m not comfortable,” Davis shared. “I believe that you can be as comfortable as you can be, but at some point, you have to perform when you’re uncomfortable.”
Learning from his older brothers has been key to Davis’ development
The family culture is strong at Utah, and it’s apparent with each position group. Davis sees Tao Johnson, Rabbit Evans, and Nate Ritchie as older brothers that he can rely on to help his development.
“Those are my dogs, man, it’s a real family bond,” Davis said of his fellow safeties. “I’m the oldest in my family, so I’m not used to having older brothers, and it’s been great having those guys to look up to in that sort of sense. I feel I can always ask them questions to strengthen my play or correct a mistake and constantly learn from them.”
Davis credits the culture that Morgan Scalley has established on the defensive side of the ball as a big reason for that.
“It always goes back to our motto, RSNB,” When you look around, and you’ve got 10 other dudes that want to make plays as badly as you, all striving for the same goal, you all have your foot on the gas, they’re not looking to let up, so why should you?”
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