Davaughn Patterson
Wake Forest·6-0·217 lbScouting Report
A safety-sized slot defender who tackles everything.
The case for
- Steady tackling production, with 74 tackles in 2024 and 78 in 2025
- Breaks up passes from the slot, with nine pass breakups in 2025, a team lead and sixth in the ACC in passes defended
- Tight in coverage, giving up only two touchdowns in all of 2025
The worry
- One career interception in four seasons, so his pass breakups have not turned into takeaways
- Little production in the backfield for a box-sized defender, with eight career tackles for loss and no sacks
- Coverage numbers have dipped in 2026, with two passes defended so far after nine in 2025
Full report
Davaughn Patterson is a junior defensive back from Jacksonville, Florida, and over the last three seasons he has become one of Wake Forest's most-used defenders. He is listed at 6-0 and between 214 and 217 pounds, which is the frame of a box safety. Even so, the Demon Deacons have used him heavily in the slot, and few ACC defensive backs were on the field more often in 2025. His first full season came as a redshirt freshman in 2024, when he started every game and made 74 tackles with 3.5 tackles for loss, a forced fumble and an interception. He took a step forward as a redshirt sophomore in 2025. He played all 12 games and finished with 78 tackles, four tackles for loss, nine pass breakups and another forced fumble. Those nine passes defended led the team and ranked sixth in the ACC, and the season notes quoted on Fanspeak say he gave up only two touchdowns all year. His best game came in the win over SMU, which earned him ACC defensive back of the week. Wake Forest also lined him up at strong safety and on special teams, so he can fill more than one role. Early in 2026 he has 36 tackles, two passes defended and half a tackle for loss. WalterFootball's Charlie Campbell ranks him the 16th safety, projects him for rounds four to six and lists him with the 2028 class. The Fanspeak community has him around 265th overall, with an average mock slot near 216.
Every strength
- Carries a heavy snap load and was among the ACC's most-used defensive backs in 2025
- Plays several spots, including slot corner, strong safety and special teams
- Safety-sized frame at 6-0 and about 215 pounds that can hold up against the run
- Forces turnovers as a tackler, with a forced fumble in both 2024 and 2025
- Durable, starting every game in 2024 and playing all 12 in 2025
Every weakness
- Speed is unproven, and WalterFootball's projected 4.50 40 suggests he may be limited in deep coverage
- No settled NFL position yet, since he splits time between the slot and safety
- Projected for Day 3, rounds four to six by WalterFootball and the 31st safety in the Fanspeak consensus
NFL Comps
The pros whose college production, size and testing looked most like his. The percent is how close.
Sanoussi Kane ’2468%Daimion Stafford ’1365%
Kavon Frazier ’1664%
Kitan Oladapo ’2464%Kevin Payne ’0762%
Johnathan Cyprien ’1360%Of his 20 closest coming out: 2 stars, 4 starters, 9 backups, 5 didn't stick.
Draft Movement
Down 82 spots since Jun.
Where he sits on the consensus big board, each week since Jun. Up is better.
College Stats
| Season | Team | G | Tkl | TFL | Sacks | Hur | INT | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Wake Forest | 12 | 74 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| 2025 | Wake Forest | 13 | 80 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 9 |
| 2026 | Wake Forest | 6 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Career | 31 | 194 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 14 |
From our play-by-play, so the yards can sit a touch under the official box score.
College Market Value
Our model prices him at $1.15M on the open college market, built from production, pedigree, role and Wake Forest's program money. No credible deal has been reported for him this season.
Every P4 player priced, math public: College players & NIL · Roster spend
Awards & Honors
ACC Defensive Back of the Week (vs. SMU, 2025); WalterFootball No. 16 safety (2028 class, rounds 4-6); Fanspeak consensus S31, No. 265 overall