James Davis was drafted No. 118 overall by the Oakland Raiders in the 1981 NFL Draft out of Southern. 83 regular-season games · 8 career approximate value
- Overall pick
- #118
- Round
- 5
- Draft class
- 1981
- NFL games
- 83
- Career AV
- 88th at Southern
The pick
How James Davis came off the board in 1981.
- Position
- Defensive back DB
- College
-
Southern
SWAC at the draft
- Side of the ball
- Defense
NFL career
83 regular-season games · 8 career approximate value
- Games played
- 83
- Career approximate value
- 88th among Southern picks
- AV with the drafting club
- 8100% of career value
- Final season
- 19876 years after the draft
Around pick 118
Who came off the board on either side of James Davis.
Illinois College
Alabama
Oklahoma State · 1× All-Pro · 1× Pro Bowl
Pittsburgh
Southern in the 1981 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
Other DB picks from Southern
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
Southern · Hall of Fame · 3× All-Pro · 8× Pro Bowl
#96
Maurice Hurst
DB · NE · 1989
Southern
#105
Jerry Wilson
DB · TB · 1995
Southern
#104
Michael Ball
DB · IND · 1988
Southern
#139
Herb Williams
DB · SF · 1980
Southern
#213
Harvey Wilson
DB · IND · 1990
Southern
Other players named James Davis
Different people who share this name in the draft archive.
Clemson
West Virginia
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
James Davis in the 1981 NFL Draft
James Davis is a Defensive back out of Southern selected No. 118 overall by the Oakland Raiders in the 1981 NFL Draft. 83 regular-season games · 8 career approximate value Southern has produced 23 NFL draft picks since 1980.
Where this data comes from
Pick order and career outcomes come from the nflverse draft archive; position, measurables, and conference at the time of the draft come from the college feed. Career columns stay empty until a player logs regular-season snaps.
Frequently asked questions
Where was James Davis drafted?
James Davis was selected No. 118 overall by the Oakland Raiders in the 1981 NFL Draft (Rd 5). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1981/james-davis.
What college did James Davis play for?
James Davis played college football at Southern in the SWAC. See every Southern draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/southern-jaguars.
How did James Davis's NFL career turn out?
83 regular-season games · 8 career approximate value Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1981/james-davis.