Rian Davis chooses transfer destination closer to home at UCF
A day after former Georgia defensive lineman Bear Alexander found his new home out of the transfer portal, inside linebacker Rian Davis has done the same. A native of Apopka, Fla. just outside of Orlando, Davis is headed back to that area to play for UCF as the Knights transition into the Big 12 next fall.
Davis, who was the nation’s No. 90 overall prospect, No. 11 linebacker, and No. 11 player in Florida per the On3 Industry Ranking, played in 23 games over the course of his career. Due to various injuries including a torn ACL during his senior season of high school and a ruptured quadricep in 2021, Davis only played in nine games his first three seasons on campus.
However, in 2022, Davis saw action in 14 of 15 contests for the Bulldogs, starting two. He piled up 15 tackles and five quarterback pressures on the year. He also had a sack (uncredited because it was labeled no gain) to put Georgia’s 27-13 win over then No. 1-ranked Tennessee on ice.
Davis is one of 15 Georgia players to enter the transfer portal this offseason including fellow inside linebacker and 2019 signee Trezmen Marshall who’s headed to Alabama. Marucs Washington Jr. became the most recent on Saturday. Others (and their destinations) include AD Mitchell (Texas), Dominic Blaylock, Arik Gilbert (Nebraska), Brett Seither (Georgia Tech), Ryland Goede (Mississippi State), Jacob Hood (Nebraska), Griffin Scroggs, Bear Alexander (USC), Shone Washington, Bill Norton (Arizona), MJ Sherman (Nebraska) and Jaheim Singletary (Arkansas).
Where Georgia stands at inside linebacker…
Davis has served as an emotional leader for the Bulldogs the past couple of seasons but they’re still in great shape as far as depth and talent are concerned. Starters Jamon Dumas-Johnson and Smael Mondon, the team’s two leading tacklers from last season, are back. They combined for 17 tackles behind the line of scrimmage in 2022.
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Georgia also brings back Xavian Sorey, a redshirt sophomore and four-star signee from the 2021 class, and E.J. Lightsey, a redshirt freshman and three-star signee from the 2022 class. Those two saw extensive time with the first-team defense at G-Day.
Co-defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach Glenn Schumann also signed a big-time group in 2023. Two of those guys are already on campus in five-star prospect Raylen Wilson and four-star CJ Allen. They’ll be joined by another four-star prospect, Troy Bowles, this summer.
Georgia’s 2023 scholarship count at 86 players on paper. That’s without knowing if there are any arrangements for 2022 or 2023 signees to be on the roster as walk-ons. The current number includes the eight signees from the 2023 class who’ll enroll this summer.
