PRO 2024 Rookie Spotlight: Ray Davis, RB Kentucky
Rookie Spotlight: Ray Davis, Kentucky
Height: 5-8 1/2″
Weight: 220
2024 Age: 24 – (11/11/99)
Hands: 9 1/8″
Arm: 29 7/8″
40-yard dash: 4.47 (projected)
NFL Play-Style Comparison: Jerick McKinnon, Maurice Jones-Drew, Doug Martin
Draft Grade: 4th/5th Round
1,000+ Rushing Seasons: 2 (2022, 2023)
Offensive Market Share Metrics (Final Season)
Carries: 59%
Receptions: 15.6%
Scrimmage Yards: 32.7%
Scrimmage TDs: 48.8%
Total Production Percentage: 39.2%
High School: Blair Academy (Blairstown, NJ)
As a high school prospect: Class of 2019; 3-star
College Attended: Temple, Vanderbilt, Kentucky
Pros
– Ability to make a defender miss in a phone booth, and run the next defender over.
– Good patience behind blockers
– Top-end contact balance on almost every carry
– 751 yards after contact was 11th in the Power-5 in 2023.
– Strong Vision rusher with the ability to change direction mid-run and make something out of a negatively blocked play.
– First Team All-SEC Rusher in 2023 (AP, Phil Steele, USA Today), Second Team All-America (SI)
– Sets up blocks with ease, utilizes jump cut to manage the entire field
Cons
– Tight muscle hampster-type running style
– Will turn 25 years old during rookie season
– The 99th Graded pass-blocking running back out of 138 in the Power-5
– Two-time transfer in college
Scouting Notes:
All of the makings of a top-10 running back in this 2024 NFL draft class, Davis is a hammer in the running game with the ability to manage the line of scrimmage with his eyes and slight movements in the backfield, his patience and acceleration are a lethal combo that saw him rush for over 1,000 yards in the SEC for two separate universities. He classifies as a 2-down back with upside in the receiving game, there are question marks in the pass-protecting area that can be worked through as he graded 99th out of 138 ball-carriers in 2023 in protecting the quarterback.
Fantasy Outlook:
Davis portrays a Power-5 version of the great Georgia Southern running back, Jerick McKinnon. McKinnon flashed in opportunities with the Minnesota Vikings finishing as high as RB23 in fantasy points per game, in 2017. Ray Davis will likely be drafted on day three of the NFL Draft, coincidentally dropping him out of the Round 3 conversation for most during Dynasty Rookie Drafts, but not for us, my expectation for Davis will be higher than any other back in 2024 class that is drafted on Day 3. His 23% reception share, and ability to separate from defenders in the receiving game with the same acceleration he plays within the running game confirms my belief that Davis has all of the intangibles needed to be a darling on your fantasy team.
