Vikings linebacker Jamin Davis was nicknamed “Shadow” as a kid because of his blazing speed. Now, he’s using that hustle to sack opposing quarterbacks.
Growing up in south Georgia, Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jamin Davis liked to run.
He ran track, played football and was always looking to hit top speeds, hence his affinity for NASCAR.
As a kid, Davis had a best friend who also ran track, and the two went back and forth.
“One week he’d win, the next week I’d win,” Davis said with a smile.
The rivalry prompted a new nickname for Davis. His friend had already coined the name “Sonic” from the popular video game series, so it was only fitting that Davis be given the name of Sonic’s archrival — “Shadow.”
“We became like brothers,” Davis said. “We would always go back and forth racing at track meets. … It was just like Sonic and Shadow, and it just kind of stuck with me throughout my entire life.”
Shadow, like Sonic, has blazing-fast speed, and won over gamers as a side character in the Sega series. Now, Davis is using his speed to win over his new teammates, who he recently joined after the Vikings plucked him from the Green Bay Packers’ practice squad in late November.
“So far, it’s been pretty smooth,” said Davis when asked about adjusting to his new team. “Just finally getting my feet wet again. I’m getting comfortable with just being around the guys and doing what I can to learn the scheme as fast as possible to just go out there and make whatever plays present themselves.”
Davis entered the league as one of the more athletic linebackers in the 2021 draft class. While COVID-19 canceled the NFL Combine that year, Davis’s 4.41 40-yard-dash time at his Pro Day would have made him one of the fastest linebackers in the 2020 NFL Combine. Partner that with his 42-inch vertical and 11-foot broad jump, and you have a first-round prospect with immense potential.
The first part came to fruition, Davis was selected No. 19 overall by Washington in 2021, but now he’s looking to transform that potential into consistent results.
In three full seasons with Washington, Davis recorded 269 tackles, 20 tackles for loss and seven sacks. His best year came in 2022 when he had 104 tackles, nine tackles for loss, three sacks and two fumble recoveries. He followed that up with another three-sack season in 2023 before the Commanders tried to move him to defensive end to start the 2024 season. He was eventually released in late October, and caught on with Green Bay’s practice squad a week later.
Growing up in a military family, Davis learned about adversity. Both his parents served in the Army, instilling in him a “never-give-up” mentality that he still carries with him to this day.
“A lot of what they instilled in me, I just stay true to and don’t sway away from it,” Davis said. “In an adverse situation, I’m always going to revert back to that.”
Davis signed with the Vikings on Nov. 26 after the team placed starting linebacker Ivan Pace, Jr. on Injured Reserve with a hamstring injury. He made his Vikings debut just five days after signing, and then recorded his first tackle a week later against Atlanta. If you’re wondering whether he still has that blazing speed, just ask Kirk Cousins. Midway through the second quarter, Davis burst through the line, fought off a hold by Bijan Robinson and pulled down the quarterback for a six-yard loss.
“Trying to catch up as much as I possibly can, and be a part of something special here,” said Davis, who recently turned 26. “That’s been my main focus, trying to go out and do whatever I can to help out.”
Off the field, Davis said he still likes to play video games in the offseason, mostly Call of Duty, but he’s also going to make it a point to check out the new Sonic movie, which hits theaters Friday, to catch Shadow’s movie debut.
“No question, for sure,” said Davis. “That’s always been like my second identity.”