When Noor Davis arrived in Palo Alto, California as a freshman, he was already one of the most hyped defensive recruits to ever commit to Stanford University.
The son of a former New York Giant (1987) and New England Patriot (1988) and the nephew of NFL Hall of Famer Andre Tippett, Davis certainly has the genetics of a program-defining star.
In high school, Davis capitalized on his prodigious build and became one of the hardest hitting linebackers in the country. A one-man wrecking machine with more than 100 tackles in his junior year of high school alone, Davis won the 2011 Butkus Award – given to the top high school linebacker in the country – and scorched the recruiting trail with 19 offers from the best college football powerhouses in the country.
He had private phone conversations with Nick Saban and received his scholarship offer from the Florida Gators directly from Will Muschamp. Eventually, however, Davis – who boasted a 4.3 GPA in high school – decided to go to the school where he felt his mind would be challenged just as hard as his body.
Now entering his junior season as a Cardinal, the 6’4” Davis has discovered a passion for political science and has settled into a comfortable role in Stanford’s defense.
Even in a disappointing freshman season on the field in which he didn’t see action, Davis thrived academically and earned a Student Assistant role with former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in her Stanford office.
He then returned with newfound motivation in his sophomore season and went on to record five tackles in four games.
Now, in addition to competing for a starting role on a dangerous Pac-12 sleeper, Davis continues to work with Rice’s office and is now a Special Instructor for Public Speaking in Stanford’s engineering school.
With a preseason top 15 ranking in the polls and one of the most prestigious student jobs on campus, it’s clear Davis has developed into an exemplary Scholar-Baller®.
"Stanford is the best fit for me as a student-athlete. They have a tremendous football program that is nationally ranked and there is a great support system for the athletes. It's also a challenging academic institution where I plan on eventually earning a Masters degree in business.”
~ Noor Davis