Dynasty Gems: Ray Davis 2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Ray Davis 2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Ray Davis is a 5-10, 216 lb running back from the University of Kentucky
Background
Ray Davis has spent the last 5 years in college and has bounced around quite a bit. He’s gone from Temple to Vanderbilt to Kentucky and will put on a new jersey in 2024 after declaring for the NFL draft. Davis skyrocketed draft boards after his first season as a Wildcat, putting up career highs in rushing yards, yards per carry and rushing touchdowns. He even got involved in the passing game for the first time in his collegiate career, posting career highs in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns. It was a career year all around for Davis. After this spectacular play, Davis has made himself a name to watch during the draft process.
Scouting Report
Davis is arguably the most fundamentally sound running back in this draft. He stays patient, waits for his blocks to develop and reads the blocks well. He blends this with solid vision which translated in a whopping 5.7 yards per carry this season. My favorite trait is how he carries his pads. He keeps his pads low and squared which will definitely translate to the next level.
The concerning part about Davis’ game? His athleticism. Davis is undersized at only 5 ‘9 yet isn’t a good athlete. These type of players typically don’t translate to the next level. His burst is subpar and it takes a while for him to get to full speed. Those are 2 traits running backs need when they get to the NFL. On the bright side, he is dangerous when he’s in open space. He blends elusiveness with exceptional lower contact balance to make him a hard player to bring down to the turf.
Despite Davis’ small size, he has a solid frame, listed at 216 pounds. This gives him a physical aspect to his game. Like mentioned before, he’s a tough player to bring down and doesn’t shy away from contact. He’s capable of getting physical and consistently uses his momentum to fall forward, picking up extra yardage.
As a 3rd down back, Davis struggled in college. The main reason for this is his weak blocking skills, being unable to pick up free defenders adequately. This is another issue that comes with being undersized. His receiving skills are solid and he was productive in this aspect in college, however it won’t make up for his blocking.
Related: Brian Thomas Jr 2024 Dynasty Rookie Profile
Best Landing Spot: Los Angeles Rams
Unfortunately for Davis, he will likely be a day 3 pick and rely on injuries to get playing time. He will likely be no more than a depth piece coming out of the draft. This is something the Rams can use. When Kyren Williams went down with an injury, the Rams had to resort to Darrell Henderson, who they cut right after. Davis could work his way in as the RB2 right away and serve as a backup behind Williams.
Dynasty Outlook
With Davis as fundamentally sound as he is, he poses as a high floor player. However, his insufficient athleticism severely plummets his draft stock and dynasty value. Davis will likely have his ADP in the 4th round range. However, he should be selected in the early 3rd in rookie drafts.
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