Duke football recruiting: Four-star DL Bryce Davis, the program’s top recruit in the modern era, flips from Clemson
Duke landed a commitment from four-star defensive lineman Bryce Davis on Sunday after he flipped from Clemson. If Davis signs with the Blue Devils, he will become the program’s top recruit in the 247Sports era.
Davis stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 245 pounds and is a star at Grimsley High School in Greensboro, North Carolina, about an hour from Duke’s campus in Durham. Davis is the No. 64 overall player and No. 3 player from the state in the Top247 rankings for the class of 2025.
Davis could play either edge or as an interior lineman with Duke, depending on what kind of body he has.
“The ceiling may be highest as an edge defender because of how he generates pressure, but he has some experience from the three-point stance and could very well establish himself as an interior option after a year or two in the college weight room,” 247Sports scouting director Andrew Ivins wrote. “He should move on, but given his combination of explosive instincts and growth potential, he should be viewed as a future impact player at the (Power Four) level.”
Davis had offers from nearly all of the top programs in the country, but committed to Clemson on July 20. Georgia and South Carolina were looking for him, but Duke was second in his recruitment. The Blue Devils continued to recruit Davis after he committed. Davis’ primary recruiter was defensive ends coach Harland Bower, who stayed with the program amid the transition from Mike Elko to Manny Diaz.
Key additions to the Blue Devils defense
Diaz has been considered a strong recruiter in the past, but Davis is a foundational piece for his program on defense. His addition has moved Duke’s recruiting class from 44th nationally to 33rd, and tied for 6th in the ACC with 25 commitments.
Davis told 247Sports over the summer that the opportunity to be “the guy” at Duke and work closely with former blue-chip quarterback Malik Murphy appealed to him. Duke is going through a period of historic success after winning 16 games in two seasons under Elko. Diaz also led Miami to three consecutive bowls before a stint as DC at Penn State.
“My parents love the education there,” Davis said. “My mom is a teacher and my dad is a police officer, so they always preach to me to be a student-athlete. The students always come first.”
Clemson defeat
With Davis’ departure, Clemson slipped to 14th in the 247Sports team rankings behind Michigan. However, the Tigers have three defensive line and edge players rated better than Davis. That includes No. 2 player Isaiah Campbell from North Carolina, who is ranked one spot higher than Davis.
The defensive line has rarely been a concern for Clemson over the past decade. In the 2024 NFL Draft, Clemson selected three defensive linemen, including second-round defensive tackle Ruke Orhoro. Losing one of the Carolinas’ top players to a conference rival is undoubtedly disappointing, but Clemson should have plenty of options to replace Davis.
