Josiah Davis, Norfolk State S: the 2026 season story
Josiah Davis is a freshman defensive back for Norfolk State (MEAC). He ranks 549th of 1,841 defensive backs in Division I by the Player Index, which judges every defensive back on the measures that matter at the position, adjusted for the opponents he faced.
Scouting report
Why it matters. Every measure is set against every ranked defensive back, so a strength here is a strength against the whole position, not just his own team. Josiah Davis's strongest measure is interceptions per game at 0.28, 55th of 921 (the average is 0.08). His weakest is tackles per game at 1.8, 874th of 921 (the average is 3.7).
Season production
Why it matters. Volume is the first sign of how much a coaching staff trusts a player. His tackles per game, 1.8, ranks 874th among 921 ranked defensive backs.
Against every defensive back
Why it matters. Volume, efficiency and impact plays can tell different stories: a player can be busy without being effective, or rarely used but dangerous every time. Among ranked defensive backs he sits, on average, in the 5th percentile for volume, 41st for efficiency and 55th for impact.
The season, game by game
Why it matters. Consistency matters to a team: one huge game and five quiet ones is a different season from six solid ones. Over 9 games, Josiah Davis's best came in week 2 at Virginia and his quietest in week 6 against a non-Division I team.
Where he does his damage
Why it matters. The shape of a player's production, not just its size, is what opponents scout.
National and conference
Why it matters. The Player Index puts every defensive back on one scale, adjusted for the defenses or offenses he faced, so a rank here is comparable across conferences. Josiah Davis is 185th of 920 FCS defensive backs and 9th of 44 in the MEAC. Next up nationally is Tywan Royal of Austin Peay, 0.00 ahead on the index.
Defensive backs like him
Why it matters. Players with similar profiles tend to be used the same way, which makes them a quick way to picture his game. His closest match this season is Chase Jarrett of Colgate.
