William Davis, a 22-year-old defensive back for Sam Houston State, who joined the Bearkats after transferring from West Virginia University, has sadly passed away. Sam Houston State head coach Phil Longo released a statement confirming Davis’ death on May 17, 2026. “It is with heavy hearts that we mourn the loss of Will Davis,” Longo said.
“Will was a beloved member of our Bearkat football family here at Sam Houston who touched the lives of everyone he knew. Will was an upbeat, positive, passionate young man who will be sincerely missed. Tanya, the kids and I are praying for Will’s family during this difficult time,” he added. Davis’ college football career started at Virginia Union where he played 19 games with the team.
During his time at Virginia Union, he had five interceptions and one touchdown. Following the 2024 season, he transferred to West Virginia. He only played one game with the Mountaineers. Plans were then put in place for Davis to try out for a spot on the Sam Houston State roster. In 2025, he graduated from West Virginia, receiving a masters of science in sports management degree.
“Sam Houston felt like home from the moment I first set foot on campus,” Davis said during an interview with Nilson Sports. “As a Virginia kid that had played every snap of football in my life within driving distance of home, it was important to me that I’d play somewhere where I fit seamlessly into the culture, if I was going to be so distant geographically.”
“The ability to play for Coach Dovonte Edwards, someone with experience playing in the NFL that can show me the blueprint of what it looks like to become the type of player who can achieve success at the highest level, was a motivating factor for me as well,” he added, according to a report from The Daily Caller. As of this writing, the cause of Davis’ death is being called an apparent suicide.
A report from WTVR revealed that during his time at Virginia Union University, Davis poured blood, sweat, and tears out on the field, working his way up from being a walk-on freshman to becoming team captain and a two-time CIAA Conference Champion and First Team All-CIAA selection. “Davis was an inspiration and a culture setter to everyone around him,” Virginia Union Football said addressing Davis’ death. “Our prayers are with his family, friends, teammates, and coaches during this difficult time.”
“He brought a positive light to those around him and was a great teammate,” WVU Football said in a post about Davis published on social media platform Facebook. One individual commented on the post, saying, “Will was a truly exceptional young man, possessing a remarkable combination of politeness, intelligence, and athleticism. He will be deeply missed by so many people. Many prayers for his family.”
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Another person left a heartfelt message, saying, “Simply heartbreaking. So many of our treasured young people are not seeing their value! They are suffering in part from the glorification of people on social media. He was loved. He was treasured. His family is left with nothing but ‘what ifs’. If you suffer from mental illness and depression please get help. Heck reach out to me if you need someone to listen! Please please PLEASE don’t let another precious life end this way!”
Featured Image: screenshot from embedded video