But once the graduate student arrived at Northwestern for spring practice, he gained an entirely new perspective about achieving peak performance.
“I changed my whole routine when I got here,” Davis said. “Before, I was just basically playing off athleticism, not really preparing. I came here, and they put me on a routine. I’m coming in at 6 a.m., stretching out, taking care of my body and doing the little things.”
Two games into his career with the Wildcats, including a career-high three pass breakup performance in Week 2 against Western Illinois, Davis has solidified a starting role at outside corner.
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— Northwestern Football (@NUFBFamily) September 7, 2025
For the 6-foot-1, 200-pound defensive back, Northwestern presents a “professional” dynamic he’d seldom encountered in his playing career.
“What really separated everything is how pro-style this [program] is,” Davis said. “Some of the coaches came from the league, coached in the league and the prior pro prospects that came out of Northwestern were really the biggest difference. This program is run a lot differently, a lot more developmental — getting you ready for the pros.”
Last year, Davis starred at Jacksonville State under then-head coach Rich Rodriguez. Davis recorded 18 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, four pass breakups and relented just 16 receptions in 245 coverage snaps.
After helping the Gamecocks capture their first-ever Conference USA title, Davis became a highly sought-after prospect in the transfer portal. He had interest from West Virginia, Virginia and Missouri, among other programs, but the Wildcats left a lasting impression on Davis’ visit.
“I knew this was the place for me when the coaches showed me around,” Davis said. “It was a family environment. The coaches loved me, and they had a plan for me. With the defensive scheme, we don’t just play man or zone. We mix everything in, and that’s different from anywhere else.”
As the Jacksonville native geared up to make the transition to Big Ten football, he and his longtime trainer Nate Keller immediately went to work to prepare Davis for spring ball in Evanston.
Keller said Davis, who he first began working with during the cornerback’s brief stint with UCF, trained with a newfound level of excitement while maintaining a laser focus.
“His attention to detail is one of the highest caliber I’ve had over the years,” Keller said. “I’ve trained multiple athletes that have played in the NFL, multiple college athletes — thousands of them at this point, and [Davis] is one of the twitchiest guys I’ve ever worked with. He can jump extremely high, far and run very fast with minimal effort. The sky’s the limit with him.”
Once he joined his new teammates, Davis didn’t take long to find his voice as a veteran leader in the cornerback room. He said he’s learned plenty of bigger picture elements, such as targeted approaches on special teams and how opposing offenses look to attack.
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— Northwestern Football (@NUFBFamily) August 1, 2025
Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach David Braun said Davis’ acclimation to defensive coordinator Tim McGarigle‘s scheme has proven especially impressive. Braun added that he saw a major leap out of Davis and fellow transfer defensive back Dillon Tatum in just the past two weeks.
“Both have taken full advantage of spending extra time with coaches, doing what they need to get up to speed,” Braun said. “You saw a great progression out of Fred from Week 1 to Week 2. That progression needs to continue. The thing I’m most impressed with in both is just their unwavering commitment to the program.”
Redshirt sophomore cornerback Josh Fussell, who became a routine starter for the ‘Cats last season, has relished the opportunity to play alongside Davis. Similarly, Davis said he and his standout younger teammate both take nuggets and teaching moments from one another’s repertoire.
“Fred came in with a lot of experience, so I’ve taken a lot of his technique and little tips throughout practices and games,” Fussell said.
Five years after he first arrived at Clemson as a highly touted recruit in 2020, Davis has reached his final season of collegiate eligibility. He holds NFL dreams and desires to continue the Wildcats’ storied history of sending secondary stars to shine at the next level.
But Davis feels he wouldn’t be half the individual he is today without embarking on the winding journey of his college football career.
“I’ve been through a lot, and I wouldn’t change it for nothing,” Davis said. “It molded me and shaped me into the man I am today. I’m very grateful for all the opportunities that I got and the opportunity to be here. It’s just a blessing to be at Northwestern and go against Big Ten competition, top teams every week. The work ethic here is unmatched.”
Davis and Northwestern face a tall task Saturday morning in Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium, where they’ll take on No. 4 Oregon at 11 a.m. CT.
The matchup will mark the first-ever top 10 opponent to compete in the Wildcats’ lakeside venue, and it’s a game that Davis is ecstatic to play in.
“It’s a blessing, just putting one foot forward and going out there and playing,” Davis said. “That’s the whole thing: don’t worry, just compete. With No. 4 Oregon coming in, it’s a big stage to make some plays and for everybody to gel and just show what we can do.”