2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Ray Davis

Last Updated: 11/20/2023

Ray Davis has had an up-and-down college career, transferring twice and battling through a season-ending toe injury in 2021 to emerge as one of the nation’s best backs this year. In his lone season at Kentucky, he racked up over 1,300 scrimmage yards and 20 touchdowns while posting his second straight 1,000-yard rushing season. Davis has a ton of positive traits that will make him an intriguing draft prospect. 

Davis has a stout frame, measuring in at 5-foot-10 and 216 pounds, and uses every pound of it as a runner. I would liken his style to the traditional bull in a china shop. Davis seeks out the contact once he is moving north and south and often delivers the hits, as opposed to taking them. He has a very good pad level at the point of contact which allows him to drive defenders back or even force missed tackles as they bounce off him. It is not often we see a run where he is not finishing with authority and power. 

He is not all power, though. Davis shows some wiggle and an ability to freeze defenders in the open field. He marries this with a nice burst and enough top-end speed to create big plays when the defense is caught out of position. Davis’ ability to pick the right hole is solid, as he often hits the hole on stretch or zone plays, but it could still be improved. His lateral movements are quick and efficient which helps him navigate the line of scrimmage well, but he is best when he can just plant his foot and go. 

As a pass-catcher, Davis has a decent amount of experience in his career. However, it is a limited route exposure. Most of this came on screens, flats or dump-offs, so there is room to improve here. When called upon, he showed soft hands and the ability to catch outside his frame at times. He transitions well from a pass-catcher to a runner which allows him to create a decent amount of yards after the catch.  

• Quickness 
• Powerful runner and finisher 

• Limited elusiveness
• Pass blocking 
• Top-end speed 

•  AP Midseason All-American (Second Team, 2023) 

• 40-yard dash: 4.52s
• 10-yard split: 1.56s
• Vertical: 35″
• Broad Jump: 9’11”
• Three-cone: TBD
• Shuttle: 4.51s
• Bench: TBD

• Early-down committee back 

• Interior Zone

Ray Davis feels like he will be drafted as a committee back on Day 3, which will likely relegate him to an early-down player. As a result, he will have little fantasy value. But if he ends up paired with a high-powered offense and earns a short yardage/early-down role weekly, he could have some solid fantasy value.