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William Davis, the Sam Houston State Bearkats football player who transferred to the school after playing a year with the West Virginia Mountaineers, reportedly died from a gunshot wound to the chest.
The Virginia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said it was unclear whether it was a homicide and that the circumstances of Davis’ death were pending, according to TMZ.
Sam Houston State head coach Phil Longo released a statement Sunday confirming the death of the 22-year-old.
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William Davis participates in 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 optimistic, positive and passionate young man who will be sincerely missed. Tanya, the children and I are praying for Will’s family during this difficult time.”
Davis began his college career at Virginia Union, playing in 19 games and recording five interceptions and a 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 degree in sports management in 2025. He was set to compete for a spot on Sam Houston State’s team and said the campus felt like home.
“Sam Houston felt like home from the moment I stepped foot on campus,” he said via Nilson Sports. “As a kid from Virginia who had played every football game of my life within a short drive of my home, it was important to me to play in a place where I fit right into the culture if I had to be so far away geographically.”
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“The ability to play for Coach Dovonte Edwards, someone with NFL experience who can show me what it looks like to become the type of player who can succeed at the highest level, has also been a motivating factor for me.”
