Steve Jones

@stevejones_cj

Texas A&M tight end Jordan Davis, a former four-star high school recruit, announced Wednesday that he's transferring to the University of Louisville, where he could be an important addition for the 2017 season.

The 6-foot-4, 251-pound Davis said U of L was already No. 1 on his list before he took a visit over the weekend for the Cardinals' spring game. Then the way they used their tight ends in the game, including Cole Hikutini recording five catches for 75 yards and two touchdowns, impressed him a great deal, and he felt like a priority recruit to U of L's staff.

"Obviously the performance from (quarterback) Lamar Jackson and Cole, that made my decision much easier," Davis said. "I didn't need to go anywhere else. I prayed about it, talked to my family about it, and I feel like it'll be the right place for the next few years."

Davis, who said he also considered offers to transfer to Oregon, Oklahoma State and Arizona State, played in 10 games as a true freshman last season for the Aggies, making two receptions for seven yards and a touchdown. He announced in February that he planned to transfer.

A product of Clear Lake High School in Houston, Davis was rated four stars and the nation's No. 5 tight end in the 2015 recruiting class by Scout.com, and he held offers from Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Florida State, Texas and many others. Scout.com rated him the No. 137 prospect overall, higher than any of Louisville's 2015 high school signees.

He was also rated four stars as a senior by ESPN.com, which ranked him the No. 229 prospect nationally, and he was considered a three-star prospect on Rivals.com and 247Sports.com. Davis made 34 catches for 535 yards and two TDs in 2014.

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Davis, who was also recruited by U of L offensive line coach Chris Klenakis while in high school, described himself as "a definite target downfield" but also physical blocker in the run game.

"There's no reason that I shouldn't make a huge impact coming in blocking and pass-catching," he said. "I can get downfield, run just about any route that a receiver can run."

Davis will have to sit out the 2016 season, then would be eligible as a third-year sophomore in 2017, when the Cards will have a need at tight end after the departures of seniors Hikutini and Keith Towbridge.

"With them leaving, that just opens the doors up for me to come in and compete for a starting spot (that 2017) season," Davis said. "Coming in and putting up the numbers that Cole put up in the spring game, I feel that I can put those numbers up every game. And I feel like the city (of Louisville) is a city I can come back to and call home after college."

Davis said he was impressed by the connection that Jackson and Hikutini appeared to have during the spring game. Jackson also threw a TD pass to tight end Charles Standberry in the game.

"Just the way that they use Cole, from the slot receiver to coming out of the backfield sometimes and also being an attached tight end, I feel that's definitely a fit for me, and we have similar skills," Davis said. "I could definitely see myself coming right in and being able to be a big part of the offense (in 2017)."

Davis was also on Texas A&M's sideline for last season's Music City Bowl, when Hikutini had a season-high 103 receiving yards in Louisville's 27-21 victory over the Aggies. Transferring wasn't on his mind at the time, but the performance caught his eye.

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Davis said he'll move to Louisville probably for the start of fall camp in August, though it's possible he'll come earlier in the summer if one of the Cards' 2016 signees doesn't make it, opening up a spot. While he's in Texas, he'll continue to take classes - perhaps at a junior college - toward his major in sports administration.

Davis expects big things from the Cards in the coming seasons.

"I think we definitely will be a team that not only competes for an ACC championship but a national championship within the next few years," he said. "I feel like it's a pretty young team. We have some guys coming back. With those coming back, we could definitely do some damage not just in the ACC but all over the country. I feel big things are in store for Louisville for the next few seasons. I'm excited to be a part of the Cardinal family."

Steve Jones can be reached at (502) 582-7176 and swjones1@courier-journal.com.