Jeff Davis was born January 26, 1960, in Greensboro, NC. He developed a love for athletics at an early age and began his distinguished football career in junior high school. After a number of significant achievements at Dudley High School, he was offered and accepted a football scholarship at Clemson University.

He enjoyed a phenomenal college career culminating in a National Football Championship at the Orange Bowl during his senior year. Jeff was Captain of that team and Defensive MVP of the championship game.  At the conclusion of the season, United Press and several other organizations named him a First-Team All-American. Jeff was honored as the ACC Player of the Year and the Atlanta Touchdown Club also selected him as the Lineman of the Year. Jeff still holds many Clemson records, such as most fumbles caused in a single season.

Jeff was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1982.  He immediately proved scouts wrong that dubbed him as “too small to succeed in the NFL.” Jeff played 83 games, 72 as a starter between 1982 and 1987. He led Tampa Bay in tackles three of his six years including a career high 165 stops in 1984 and served as the team captain for four seasons.

In March of 2007, Jeff was selected to be in the College Football Hall of Fame. This is quite noteworthy as only 813 players from the more than 4.7 million who have played received this prestigious award. He was enshrined at the National site in South Bend in July of 2008.

Jeff continued to demonstrate exceptional leadership and success following his football career. He was employed at Reeves Import Motorcars and eventually became the Sales Manager of Pre-Owned Cars. Meanwhile he established and pastored his own church, Covenant Worship Church in Tampa, Florida.

Four years ago, Jeff returned to Clemson to tackle another opponent.  He became the Field Director for a pioneering program entitled “Call Me Mister.” This program seeks to recruit, train and certify Black males as elementary school teachers in the state of South Carolina. In April of 2002, Jeff appeared on the Oprah Winfrey show as a recipient of “Oprah’s Angel Network,” $100,000 Use Your Life Award for his work with the Mister program. Jeff is currently employed with the Clemson Athletic department as an Assistant Athletic Director of player relations and external affairs.

Jeff is the Founder and President of Goal Line Stand, an organization that supports young people and adults as they seek to remain committed to the values that shape and govern their lives. The organization’s name is taken from the football term, “goal line stand,” representing one of the most exciting, pressure packed, decision making moments in football. The ability to stand strong in one’s convictions as opposing forces assault is the ability to make a “goal line stand.” It is Jeff Davis’ desire to act as a role model, equipping others to make a goal line stand in their own lives.

Jeff and his wife, Joni, have six children and reside in Clemson, South Carolina.