NFL Draft Profile: Ray Davis

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The 2024 NFL Draft is less than one week away. Professional football organizations are hosting final visits and making the final adjustments to their big board rankings. Personnel departments are focusing on the last weekend in April for the three-day mega-event in Detroit that will include 257 picks over seven rounds.

For the Kentucky football program, the Wildcats are scheduled to have a busy Day 2 and Day 3 this year. There are a handful of players that could end up being draft selections. KSR is here to get you ready after being there every step of the way — combine, pro day — during the pre-draft process.

Before KSR’s yearly draft guide publishes this week, we will be dropping profiles on all of the expected Kentucky draft picks in preparation for the event. Next up is a former SEC transfer who made a huge splash in his only season at Kentucky.

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Player: Ray Davis

Height: 5083
Weight: 211
Age: 24.4
Arm: 30 1/4
Hand: 8 7/8
40-Yard Dash: 4.52
10-Yard Split: 1.62
3-Cone: N/A
Short Shuttle: 4.33/4.51
Vertical: 35″
Broad Jump: 9’11”
Bench: 21 reps

Per Relative Athletic Score, Ray Davis posted some average athletic testing on a short frame at tailback. Davis’ shuttle time was poor, but did post a good vertical and flashed some long speed despite a sluggish 10-yard split. The Kentucky tailback is nowhere near the top athlete at the position, and has a lot of tread on his tires on top of turning 25 years old during his rookie season.

The testing numbers could hurt Davis on draft weekend, but the Kentucky tailback is a Day 3 prospect teams will want to draft mostly due to his production track record.

Production

2019 (Freshman at Temple): 12 games, 543 snaps, 80.5 PFF grade, 193 carries, 936 yards, 4.8 yards per rush, 42% success rate, 5.2% explosive rate, 15 receptions (23 targets), 181 yards, 12.1 yards per reception, 10 total touchdowns
2020 (Sophomore at Temple): 4 games, 229 snaps, 61.8 PFF grade, 78 carries, 308 yards, 3.9 yards per rush, 35% success rate, 9.0% explosive rate, 12 receptions (14 targets), 62 yards, 5.2 yards per reception, 1 total touchdown
2021 (Redshirt Sophomore at Vanderbilt): 3 games, 122 snaps, 76.8 PFF grade, 44 carries, 211 yards, 4.8 yards per rush, 40% success rate, 11.4% explosive rate, 5 receptions (5 targets), 27 yards, 5.4 yards per reception, 1 total touchdown
2022 (Redshirt Junior at Vanderbilt): 12 games, 592 snaps, 82.7 PFF grade, 232 carries, 1,042 yards, 4.5 yards per rush, 38% success rate, 10.3% explosive rate, 29 receptions (37 targets), 169 yards, 5.8 yards per reception, 8 total touchdowns
2023 (Redshirt Senior at Kentucky): 13 games, 574 snaps, 87.5 PFF grade, 199 carries, 1,129 yards, 5.7 yards per rush, 43% success rate, 15.6% explosive rate, 33 receptions (40 targets), 323 yards, 9.8 yards per reception, 21 total touchdowns
Career: 44 games, 2,060 snaps, 746 carries, 3,626 yards, 4.9 yards per rush, 94 receptions (139 targets), 762 yards, 8.1 yards per reception, 41 total touchdowns

Background

Ray Davis was a three-star recruit who finished his prep career at Blair Academy (N.J.) with 4,815 rushing yards and 59 touchdowns after a tough childhood that included some time in the foster system. The class of 2019 recruit persevered and landed a college football scholarship signing with Temple. The tailback hit the ground running finding playing time in year one.

Playing for head coach Rod Carey at Temple, Davis appeared in 12 games as a true freshman earning five starts leading the Owls in rushing yards (936) and rushing touchdowns (eight). Davis would return for his sophomore but played in only four games during the COVID-19 shortened season in 2020.

Davis entered the transfer portal shortly after the season and landed at Vanderbilt.

After a foot injury cut his 2021 season to just three games, Davis responded to rush for over 1,000 yards in 2022 finishing fourth in the SEC in rushing yards per game (86.8). Davis became only the 10th Vanderbilt rusher to reach the 1,000-yard threshold.

The tailback again entered the transfer portal after the season. Davis landed at Kentucky shortly after NC State quarterback Devin Leary committed to the Wildcats.

Davis saved his best for last. In his fifth season of college football, the tailback earned first-team All-SEC honors after rushing for 1,129 yards and accumulating 323 receiving yards. Davis set a Kentucky program record with 21 touchdowns in a single season. The tailback became the 11th Wildcat to ever reach the 1,000-yard threshold in a single season.

After just one season at Kentucky, Ray Davis declared for the 2024 NFL Draft after the season and finished his UK career by playing in the Gator Bowl against Clemson.

Scouting Report

Ray Davis brings a long track record of production (746 carries) to the table on a 200-plus pound frame. The All-SEC tailback has shown the ability to run between the tackles with good pad level and patience allowing blocks to set up. Davis does a good job of falling forward but is not a true power rusher who can move piles but is a multi-dimensional player.

Some growth is still needed in protection, but Davis is a dependable checkdown target who flashes a good feel for spacing and timing when plays break down with the ability to get open on wheels and slip screens. Davis was a true pass game weapon in Kentucky’s pro-style scheme, and that should translate to the next level.

The lack of big-play pop throughout his career is concerning, but the experienced tailback hit another gear when given his best supporting cast at Kentucky. Davis changes speeds well, makes second and third-level defenders miss in space, and plays through contact. The multi-time transfer is a dependable and durable tailback with run-and-pass game value. That should make the prospect an early Day 3 pick.

Draft Window

We likely will not see a big run at tailback until the fourth round. Early on Saturday, Ray Davis should be in the mix to come off the board. There is some tread on the tires and averaged athletic testing that might scare teams away, but the tape from 2023 is the tape. Davis was one of the best backs in college football last season in a pro-style offense playing with the best supporting cast of his career.

That should pay off on draft weekend.

If the run on tailbacks start early with Jonathon Brooks, Blake Corum, Trey Benson, and Jaylen Wright going off the board in the late second round or early third round, there is a chance that Davis could sneak into Day 2. At worst, this should be an early Day 3 pick due to his track record of production and versatile playing style.

Kentucky’s football version of one-and-done will likely enter his rookie season with legitimate expectations.