Jordan Davis’ road to Tuscaloosa hit a detour earlier this year when the former 4-star Alabama linebacker commit did not qualify to enroll at the Capstone and instead had to go the junior college route at Copiah Lincoln Community College in Mississippi.

Earlier this season, the Memphis (Tenn.) Southwind native decided that he was going to make it back to Tuscaloosa one day and announced his intentions to recommit to Alabama.

“Now that I’m actually seeing how the football life is, now that I’m seeing how my life really should go, because I’ve really been fighting obstacles throughout this football stuff, behind the scenes, behind the lights, behind the stars, I’ve been fighting other stuff besides football. And I was giving people reasons why I was committed there, why I wanted to commit there, but now I honestly see my purpose of why I’m going to Bama.”

Along the way, Davis says that people in his life he depended upon, or that showed interest in him as a person beyond just his football career dissipated as it became clear he wouldn’t be playing in Bryant-Denny Stadium this fall.

“When I first stepped foot down here I was in denial,” Davis said. “I was like I’m not supposed to be here. But being down here at JUCO, a lot people have changed on me. People I thought were there for me weren’t really there for me. People ain’t really been here for me, but that just gave me another reason to keep on pushing myself. It’s been real hard. You’ve got to push yourself down here because if you don’t push yourself, you’re either going to fold or you’re going to quit. Is football really for me? That’s how much JUCO will really hit you.

Ignited with a new motivation, Davis has put his head down and set forth on the road back to Tuscaloosa, one that has the former Under Armour All-American hoping leads to greatness.

“Everybody always says you don’t have to prove to nobody, but I think now in my life and where I stand, I do have something to prove,” Davis said. “That’s one reason why I do want to go to Bama. I want to be that player that everybody didn’t believe that was going to be that playmaker. You’ve heard of a lot of playmakers at Alabama, but you ain’t just never heard of that one fantastic player at Alabama, it’s always multiple. I want to be that one standout player. I know I don’t have a lot of times on my hands to become that player, but I promise I’ll be there and I’m going to prove my point, and I’m going to make my mark.”

With Davis’ circumstances, recruiting contact is prohibited until a certain amount of time has passed on the academic calendar. However, the Memphis native feels that Alabama has stuck by his side.

“Me and Coach (Joe) Pannunzio, we made a bond way better than football,” Davis said. “Every time we used to get on the phone, we used to talk about more than just football. I know Coach P loves me because he talks more than just football. Every time we got on the phone it wasn’t how’s football going, it was how’s my mom doing, how are my brothers doing, how I’m doing with work. Coach Pannunizo was telling me every day, even when they won the games, that they needed me.”

Davis on the season has 37 tackles and 1.5 sacks for the Wolves. No matter what schools eventually get involved or show interest, there’s only one place for Davis.

“You know it’s just Bama,” he said. “I’ve been committed to Bama for a very long time. I plan on not going anywhere else. I want to go to Bama. That’s where I want to be in my life. I wish I was there my freshman year, but it ain’t been working out. That’s the only thing that really hurts my dreams, just me not being at Bama. I really want to be at Bama. Everyone asks me in interviews why Alabama? I really want to be there. I really want to play for a national championship. I want to see a ring on my finger. I want somebody mold me into a bigger and better man.

“I know if I compete I know I’ll get on the field and make my name known.”