TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Alabama has seen a spike in the sacks column in its recent box scores.

The No. 2 Crimson Tide registered a season-high six sacks against LSU and has been building toward that type of outing after a slow start to the season in the pass rush department.

A big reason for that, literally, has been the play of sophomore defensive end Raekwon Davis, who leads the team with 6.5 sacks through nine games. And in turn, Davis has helped the rest of his teammates see success on the defensive side of the football.

“Raekwon is a ferocious player, man,” senior linebacker Rashaan Evans said. “Just to have him on our team, on our defense, man, it helps my job. The fact that he’s able to get back there to quarterbacks and help me out when I’m in coverage is always a great thing for any linebacker to have.”

Davis was one of seven players to register at least half of a sack in the Alabama’s 24-10 win over LSU this past weekend, and in doing so, he pushed his sack total to 6.5 on the season -- 2.5 more than Evans, who has the second-most sacks on the team.

The 6-foot-7 defensive lineman is leading the charge into the backfield.

Over the first four games of the season, the Crimson Tide recorded a total of five sacks for an average of 1.25 per game. Since then, Alabama has amassed 24 sacks, averaging out to 4.8 sacks per game over the five-game span. Its 29 sacks ranks third in the SEC and is just three sacks away from tying Texas A&M (32) for the league lead in the category.

Alabama DE Raekwon Davis

Like the rest of his teammates, the uptick in sacks from Davis can be traced to one area.

“I think Raekwon has just developed more confidence when he’s out there,” coach Nick Saban said. “I think uncertainty in players always creates apprehension in playing fast, getting off the ball quickly. The more experience guys get, the more repetitions guys get, I think the more confidence they get, and when he plays fast he’s a very effective player.

“I’ve seen a big difference in the confidence that he has in pass rush, as well as the confidence he has in doing his job. I think he’s played better and better throughout the season in all aspects of the game.”

And the veterans along Alabama’s defensive front have noticed the same out of Davis.

“Raekwon is a great player,” redshirt sophomore linebacker Anfernee Jennings said. “He’s very energized. He plays fast. He’s come a long way.”

The Meridian, Miss., native will face a team from his home state this weekend -- and a team he strongly considered during his recruitment -- in the No. 16 Mississippi State Bulldogs. State is No. 1 in the SEC in sacks allowed, giving up only five in nine games.

But the last time Alabama traveled to Starkville, Miss., the Tide was able to sack quarterback Dak Prescott a season-high nine times on its was to a 31-6 win over the Bulldogs. And Davis and company hope to accomplish a similar feat on Saturday, Nov. 11.

“It’s always fun going into somebody’s house and quieting the entire stadium,” redshirt junior linebacker Keith Holcombe said. “That’s probably the most fun thing to do in the SEC, if you ask me. Going into somewhere that you know is going to be a hostile environment, everybody hates you out there, and you go out there, do your job, do what you’re coached to do and you show everyone that you can play football. Hitting, flying around to the ball, having fun.

“It’s a really cool moment to take all that in when you literally take that crowd out of the game.”

Alabama and Mississippi State will face off in Davis Wade Stadium at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN.

Contact Charlie Potter by 247Sports' personal messaging or on Twitter (@Charlie_Potter).