At 6-foot-7, 315 pounds, Alabama freshman defensive lineman Raekwon Davis isn’t difficult to miss, even if you weren’t aware his number was 99.

That kind of height is rare for a defensive lineman, but it hasn’t stopped the Meridian High School alumnus from seeing playing time this season for the undefeated Crimson Tide. A backup on Alabama’s defensive front, Davis saw playing time in seven games this season, which included recording a sack against Mississippi State and a tackle against Florida in the SEC Championship Game.

Davis is currently in Tampa, Fla., preparing to take on Clemson for Monday’s national championship game. As a freshman, Davis is not allowed to speak to the media, but he’s been in contact with his former position coach, Meridian defensive line coach Demetrius Hill, and Hill said Davis is excited about the opportunity to suit up for his team in a championship game.

“He’s doing fine,” Hill said. “I touch base with him regularly and just let him know he’s in a great position. He’s doing something most high school and college athletes never get to face, being in a situation to play for a national championship, and that’s a great thing. I told him to enjoy the moment, absorb it all in and build from it.”

As a defensive lineman, Davis is in good company, being a part of the same unit as the likes of Jonathan Allen, Da’Ron Payne and Dalvin Tomlinson, all of whom are projected to play in the NFL. Hill said playing alongside top-tier talent can only help Davis as he continues to develop.

“It’s just a great thing,” Hill said. “He’s around a lot of great guys, a lot of great athletes at the school — the top guys around. Anytime you get into the game, you have to perform and prove he can do it when it’s his time. He has to be patient and know that time is coming.”

Meridian head coach Calvin Hampton, who was the offensive line coach at Meridian when Davis was still in high school, said having a former Wildcat be a part of a national championship team puts Davis in small company.

“It’s monumental,” Hampton said. “In my years being a student-athlete at Meridian High and being a coach, I’ve never known a player to come from here that actually had a chance to be a part of a championship team. It’s very cool. It really just shows that if a player listens to what the coaches are doing and believes in what we’re doing — and has God-given ability — it’s amazing what can happen.”

The fact Davis was able to make it this far is in part due to the support system Davis has around him, Hampton said.

“He has a very strong support system who did a great job staying on him,” Hampton said. “The football program also stayed on top of him, and things worked out for the best.”

While playing football is a big part of Davis’ life, Hill said he’s stressed to Davis it’s not the most important thing.

“The main focus is, as I told him, once he gets there, to learn the system and do what you’re supposed to do academically,” Hill said. “Being on the field will take care of itself; he’s big and strong enough for that. The important thing is to stay focused, and he’ll be fine.”

Hampton said he’s able to point to Davis and other former Meridian players who are currently playing at the FBS level as a motivational tool for his current players.

“I don’t know of anyone at Meridian High School that doesn’t have those aspirations,” Hampton said. “That shows the type of kids we have who believe in what they’re doing and put the work in. We have a lot of guys at the FBS level, and that’s just a testament to Wildcat football and our student-athletes. If a two-year (junior college) option is there, we tell them to take it, but we really push going the four-year route.”