BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. — Khalil Davis, a former all-state football star at Blue Springs High School, will play against his hometown team Sunday in Super Bowl LV.
Davis is a rookie defensive lineman for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who host the Kansas City Chiefs in the title game at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
It's a situation that's left his family a bit torn.
“We are Chiefs fans, most definitely, but this weekend we are Tampa Bay Buccaneer fans,” Davis’ father, Carl, said.
Davis, 24, a sixth-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft out of the University of Nebraska, appeared in two regular-season games this season for the Bucs, recording two tackles — a solo stop in the Nov. 29 loss to the Chiefs and an assist in the regular-season finale against the Atlanta Falcons.
He’s also appeared in two of Tampa Bay’s three postseason games, logging snaps against the Washington Football Team during the NFC Wild Card round and the New Orleans Saints during NFC Divisional play.
The 6-foot-1 and 308-pound Davis, who is listed as the backup defensive end behind fellow Nebraska grad Ndamukong Suh, played four seasons for the Cornhuskers alongside his twin brother, Carols Davis, a defensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Khalil was chosen as Nebraska’s Defensive Lineman of the Year in both 2018 and 2019. He had 45 tackles, including team-high in tackles for a loss (11) and sacks (eight).
Both Khalil and Carlos Davis, who helped Blue Springs win back-to-back Missouri Class 6 state championships in 2012-13, earned eight varsity letters with the Cornhuskers, four apiece in football as well as track and field.
“They were some of the biggest kids on campus but one of the funniest groups of guys,” Blue Springs Associate Principal Wendell Fuimaono said. “Khalil was always a jokester in the locker room but loved people, had a loud personality. People just gravitated towards him.”
This is the second consecutive year that a Blue Springs alumnus will appear against the Chiefs in Super Bowl after Elijah Lee suited up for the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV, which the Kansas City won 31-20 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Lee and the Davis twins played together in high school for the Wildcats.
