NFL analyst explains why Ray Davis will succeed

Ray Davis has already come a long way in life from where he was to succeeding at three different programs. That journey will now continue on to the next level with NFL.com’s Charles Davis high on his chances of triumphing again as a professional.

Davis wrote about Davis as one of 16 prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft that he’s pounding the table on. How far he has come and what all he has overcome to get to where he is today is a large part of Davis’ evaluation of him being able to work out in the NFL.

“Davis truly knows what it means to overcome adversity,” Davis wrote. “One of 15 children in his family, he was living in a homeless shelter at the age of 12. Now he’s known as the relentless running back who gained 1,000 total yards at three different schools (Temple, Vanderbilt, Kentucky) and he’s about to have his NFL Draft dreams become a reality.”

That’s before you even get to what Davis brings to the table as a player and at running back. For the NFL.com analyst, he evaluated his ability to take hits and keep going as a key to his game. That brought him to a comparison for him to another back from last year’s draft.

“He might not have the long speed of some of the other running backs in this draft but he has great contact balance and reminds me of Zach Charbonnet, a second-round pick of the Seahawks last year,” Davis wrote.

Over five collegiate seasons, Davis totaled nearly 4,400 yards from scrimmage while scoring 41 touchdowns overall. The output was good for over 1,400 total yards and nine-plus touchdowns each with the Owls, Commodores, and Wildcats.

That included his lone, career year in Lexington last fall. In 2023, Davis rushed for 1,129 yards and 14 touchdowns at 5.7 yards per carry. He also caught 33 passes for 323 yards, good for 9.8 per reception, and nine more scores. Add that all up and he was clearly Kentucky’s top offensive weapon with 232 touches for 1,452 yards and 21 total touchdowns at 6.3 yards per play. It also made him one of the best in the nation with his 21 scores being third-most nationally.

Davis’ story and skills have him where most projections list him as a late Day 2, early Day 3 selection. Then, from there, this analyst has no doubts in him continuing to make his way in some team’s backfield.

“I’m banking on Davis’ internal drive and talent carrying him to success in the NFL,” wrote Davis.