Ray Davis addresses return to play vs. Vanderbilt

When Kentucky takes on Vanderbilt this weekend it’ll be a homecoming of sorts for Wildcats running back Ray Davis.

He spent the last two years suiting up for the Commodores before transferring. But he left no ambiguity about where his allegiances lie this week.

“I’m not on Vanderbilt no more, I play for Kentucky and that’s kind of all that matters,” Davis said.

Davis hasn’t approached this game like it’s a big deal or anything more than it is. That’s the mindset he’s had to be able to stay even-keeled this week.

“It’s not Ray Davis vs. Vanderbilt, it’s Kentucky football vs. Vanderbilt,” he said. “That’s the kind of mindset I’ve been able to have, and just attacking it like a normal game. Not trying to get too high, not trying to get too low, just kind of staying even front.”

That’s not to say that Davis won’t have some emotions. After all, he became a staple of the Vanderbilt offense last year, rushing for 1,042 yards and five touchdowns.

Ray Davis eager to see old friends

Davis will have plenty of friends still suiting up for the Commodores, and he’s ready to see everyone again.

“It’s exciting to get on the field and see those guys and warm up and have convos with them pre-game,” Davis said. “But once the game starts all that friendship is gone and they’re competitors and we’re trying to win a game and they’re trying to win a game. I don’t think there will be much love during the game, but after the game I think we’ll be able to express some love after that.”

Davis will surely have a lot to reflect on after this weekend.

What he accomplished at Vanderbilt has already put him on the map, and he’s only looking to show more now at Kentucky, where he has rushed for 236 yards and three touchdowns in the first three games.

Still, Ray Davis expects to feel at home on Saturday.

“The stadium doesn’t look like the stadium I played in, so definitely looking around it’ll be a little different,” he said. “But I think walking in and just seeing; I made some history there. I think I finished 10th in Commodore, Vanderbilt history of going 1,000 yards, so just being on that field again and knowing I’m forever cemented there, just knowing that it’ll be emotional, but at the end of the day I’m trying to go out there and get a win.”