Tacario Davis was born on August 17, 2004, in Long Beach, California, and started his journey to football stardom at Millikan High School. He was an outstanding defensive back and wide receiver who had 74 total tackles and 26 receptions for 463 yards. His great performance earned him a first-team All-Moore League selection and team captain honors in his final year.
Davis was rated a three-star recruit, according to 247Sports, and had college interest from the likes of Arizona, Arizona State, and Kansas. That was just a good building block for how well he has fared through the college ranks so far.
Davis was the one who committed to college football for the Arizona Wildcats, and instantly he showed his presence. As a true freshman in 2022, he played five games, accumulating seven total tackles. He started 11 of 13 games his sophomore year in 2023 and led the Pac-12 Conference with 15 pass breakups and 16 passes defended. He was named All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention and AP Second-Team All-Pac-12 following that great season.
Davis first entered the NCAA transfer portal when coaching changes occurred at Arizona after the 2023 season but decided to stick with the program after evaluating the new staff. On December 11, 2024, he announced via his Twitter handle that he would be entering the transfer portal officially for new opportunities and challenges.
Davis is considered one of the top prospects for the 2025 NFL Draft because of his rare combination of length and athleticism. He stands at 6'4" and weighs about 190 pounds, which helps him in press coverage and as a physical run defender. However, Davis struggles with transitioning and ball awareness, two things he will need to improve on to have success at the next level.
His size and athleticism make him an attractive candidate for teams looking to add depth to their defensive backfield. With these strengths, he will need to work on his technique to reach his full potential in the NFL.
Davis is known for his humility and focus on football. He says he tries not to allow distractions and takes one day at a time, improving each day. Coaches at Arizona talk about him being tight mentally through the transfer portal. That focus on his craft has been one of the hallmarks of his career, as he's made it through some very trying times in college football while having a good work ethic.
Davis earned All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention and AP Second-Team All-Pac-12 performer recognition after having such a great season in 2023. These two honors identified him for his great leadership on and off the field in the Pac-12 Conference.
Some particular 2024 season awards are not shown, but once again, placing himself in the transfer portal continues his quest for something different and a chance at greater opportunities.
Davis had a huge injury in that bowl game in 2023 against Oklahoma. He was pulled out with what actually appeared to be a head injury. This surely has made the position very tiring and illustrated how injuries are managed just to keep such performances at the top of the game. Despite this fact, Davis has handled it well through resilience and committing himself to returning stronger and even more focused.
The situation with Davis and the transfer portal is one facet of how college football has changed. He once entered the portal when coaching changes occurred in Arizona but stepped back to remain at his school.
This month of December 2024, Davis has chosen to go into the portal in search of another atmosphere that might suit his goals more appropriately. This also obscures the situation regarding collegiate football transfer mechanism decisions on matters of personal and professional betterment.
Throughout his stint with the Arizona Wildcats, Davis played a vital part in their defensive lineup. The way he has been able to perform helped influence the way that the team game plan was executed. When considering the real defensive roster change in Storey, he will try and find replacements to fit the mold. Despite that fact, Davis remains pretty big in the memory of Arizona; he set the bar high for future defensive backs.
Davis has a bright future in football, be it continuing his college education or entering the NFL. Skill and hard work have put him in a better place. His next steps in life, on and off the field, depend on how well he adapts to them. Davis can surely make an impact in the world of football with his talent and work ethic.