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William Davis, the football player for the Sam Houston State Bearkats who transferred to the school after playing one year with the West Virginia Mountaineers, reportedly died of a gunshot wound to the chest.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Virginia said it is unclear whether it is a homicide and that the manner of Davis’ death is pending, according to TMZ.
Sam Houston State head coach Phil Longo released a statement Sunday confirming the 22-year-old’s death.
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William Davis attends spring practice at Sam Houston State. (Sam Houston State University)
“It is with heavy hearts that we mourn the loss of Will Davis,” Longo said in a statement. “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 truly missed. Tanya, the children and I are praying for Will’s family during this difficult time.”
Davis began his college career at Virginia Union, where he played in 19 games and recorded five interceptions and one touchdown. After the 2024 season, he transferred to West Virginia and played one game for them.
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Former Western Virginia Mountaineers defensive back William Davis died in May 2026. (West Virginia University)
Davis graduated from West Virginia with a Master of Science in sports management in 2025. He was set to compete for a roster spot at Sam Houston State and said the campus felt like home.
“Sam Houston felt like home from the moment I first set foot on campus,” he said, via Nilson Sports. “As a Virginia kid who had played every game of football in my life within driving distance of home, it was important to me that I wanted to play in a place where I would fit seamlessly into the culture if I was going to be so geographically distant.”
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“The ability to play for coach Dovonte Edwards, someone with experience playing in the NFL who can show me the blueprint of what it looks like to be the type of player that can be successful at the highest level, was also a motivating factor for me.”
