Re'Mahn "Ray" Davis NFL Draft Prospect Profile and Scouting Report
By BrianMaafi
Name: Re’Mahn “Ray” Davis
School: Kentucky/Vanderbilt/Temple
Year: RSr
Position: RB
Measurables: 5' 81/2", 211 lbs
Combine: 40-ys: 4.52, 10-yd split: 1.56, Vertical: 35, Broad: 9'11", 20-yd shuttle: 4.51
Stats:
Courtesy of Sports-Reference.com
General Info:
Davis whose birth name is Re’Mahn Walter Zhamar Jamar Davis goes by just Ray, originally grew up in San Francisco and a child of the foster care system. Surprisingly he has 14 siblings and likes give back to the system that bore him. The former Wildcat eventually moved to New Jersey and attended high school there, where he played basketball, basketball and track. He was a three-star prospect out of high school where he signed with Temple. The former Owl played in all 12 games, starting five and rushing for 936 yards and eight touchdowns. As a Sophomore in 2020 he played in just four games, collecting 323 yards and one touchdown. Davis then transferred to Vanderbilt for the 2021 season and just played in the first three games before his season was ended by a toe injury. He rushed for just 211 yards and one touchdown. Having his best season to date the former Commodore rushed for 1,042 and five touchdowns in 2022 while also showing off some receiving chops catching 29 balls for 169 yards and three touchdowns. For his final season he transferred to Kentucky where he had his best season of his career with 1,129 yards and 14 rushing touchdowns, 33 catches 323 yards and seven touchdowns. The California native was named to some All-American teams and played in the Senior Bowl and was invited to the 2024 NFL combine.
Positional Skills:
Strengths:
He has a well built, well-proportioned body for a running back with thick legs and a muscular upper body. Davis has shown on film that he can turn his body and slip tackle attempts. He has good contact balance and will use a juke move a lot. A dangerous runner in the open field. He gives effort as a pass blocker, and seems to have good awareness in pass protection. Aggressive runner who doesn’t dance behind the line, Davis will make one, maybe two cuts then gets up the field. On occasion the former three-star prospect has used a stiff arm. The former Wildcat shows late hands on film as a receiver, not giving the defender much time to look back to find the ball. On film he shows good not elite contact balance, will bounce off tacklers. Once Davis gets going he can be hard to take down. Davis has good leg drive on film and generally falls forward and will work his way out of some tackles. On film he runs with great pad level and low to the ground. Davis can lower his shoulder on short yardage situations and get first downs or short touchdowns, he has a nose for the end zone.
Weaknesses:
Davis is undersized at under 5’9 and with average length. A lot of wear and tear on his body. He has two 1,000-yard season and another near 1,000. He has bounced around a little having played for three different schools. Davis will be 25 in November. Davis needs to do a better job of squaring up when blocking a defender, he tends to try and throw a shoulder. It takes him a couple steps to get going, if he’s hit in the backfield he usually goes down pretty easy. Davis could be better at his fakes; they can be a little lackadaisical. His long speed is pretty average. The former Owl doesn’t use a stiff arm very often. The San Francisco native was not asked to run a lot of different routes.
Fit with the Packers:
Despite his stature and age, he would be a great fit with the Packers. On film he shows explosiveness, speed, vision, cutting ability, and a nose for the end zone. The former Wildcat is also very adept in the passing game out of the backfield or even lining up in the slot or out wide. Davis has also showed to be a very natural catcher and can be a threat in the passing game. He is not the type of rusher to break off 50+ yard carries, but can get you 20-30 yarders. The question is, do they take a risk on a running back who had a lot of carries already on his body and who will also be a 25-year-old rookie? The Packers have tended to shy away from older prospects Devonte Wyatt was the oldest Gutekunst has drafted and he was 24 as a rookie. If Davis makes it to the 5th round I could see Gutey taking a chance on him there. I don’t know if I see him slipping that far with the weak class this year. If drafted by the Packers, he would instantly be Aaron Jones back up in 2024 and successor in 2025.
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Comments (9)
LambeauPlain
February 19, 2024 at 10:20 am
Nice highlight reel. Kid has some talent. I was also very impressed with the Kentucky OL. He had a lot of daylight on several runs.
But he can break tackles too...good decision making really aids his quickness. He gets upfield in a shot.
He likes to use that windmill with his free arm to maintain balance like Jones does.
Age, miles and size are a concern...but he seems a very solid football player and saved his best for last season. He'd be a safe pick, I believe.
T7Steve
February 19, 2024 at 10:24 am
Thanks, Brian.
Keep the profiles coming.
Do you know something or are you guessing Jones won't be back for the 25 season?
SicSemperTyrannis
February 19, 2024 at 11:50 am
It's not often I say this, but ALL DAY RAY would be PERFECT developing behind #33!!
golfpacker1
February 19, 2024 at 12:04 pm
I would make the comment/opinion that where with most player positions, and pro sports in general, teams are going to really factor age into a pick. Younger with potential is the hotter way of doing it.
Running Back probably is the only position where age should not have any bearing on the pick. Because in todays NFL, the RB position has been so devalued, plus teams think the shelf life of a good RB is probably 5 years. Especially not more than 5 years with your team. Before the RB costs too much money, he will be gone and replaced by a younger, cheaper player
The salary cap works in the NFL. To stay under it, unless teams have great deals at QB and the other highest paid positions, they can't keep everyone. I do think the yearly increases need to be bigger to offset what QBs alone are getting these days. Maybe $25 to $30 million per year to make up for and keep up with player salaries.
There is a great group of "Complete" RBs this year that can run and catch equally as well. I am not a fan of the Top rated 3 of Benson, Brooks, and Corum. But I don't think I have ever seen so many RBs in one draft who do both things so well. Run and catch. And in a year that GB needs 2 backs.
It doesn't matter if its a bigger back like Braelon Allen, Audric Estime, Dillon Johnson, or later guy Isaac Guerendo. They all are complete.
Or since we are looking for an Aaron Jones clone, this year we can choose from Bucky Irving, Jaylen Wright, Will Shipley, Marshawn Lloyd, or Isaiah Davis. Any of these would be great. And all after the the 2nd round. Perfect.
Ray Davis would also be a great fit in GB, even @ 25 years old. And because of his "age", he probably slips to the 5th or 6th round where he would be a steal. WE need 2 this draft and any combo of a "big" and "smaller" RB would be awesome. If you want younger, Braelon Allen just turned 20 in January.
T7Steve
February 19, 2024 at 12:42 pm
Young is good, but blocking is the most important thing they need to be a complete back in the NFL. If there's any question between backs, that's the difference maker. I think that's why Taylor kept making the 53.
golfpacker1
February 20, 2024 at 08:10 am
Man, if Braelon Allen can't block @ 6'2 and 245lbs, something is wrong with the coaching. He is bigger than most LBs.
LLCHESTY
February 19, 2024 at 01:09 pm
I'd be shocked if the Packers took a RB that old.
Leatherhead
February 19, 2024 at 01:14 pm
Nice find. A good guy on Day Three. But if Jones goes down this year, his backup is going to have to be the engine that drives a team that has Super Bowl aspirations. I'd want more security than a Day 3 rookie.
In simulation after simulation, the Packers have an opportunity at one of the top RBs at #58, whoever you may think that is, and there'll still be very good backs when we pick at #88 and #91. I'd like a better replacement for Dillon, one of the premium horses.
golfpacker1
February 20, 2024 at 08:20 am
If you take an RB @ #58, we can kiss either a better CB or O-lineman goodbye that we didn't pick @ #25 or #41. Where our picks are falling, and a great group of RBs should be available is 3rd round @ #88 & #91.
The great draft saying of "Draft the best player available" doesn't apply to the 2024 Green Bay Packers. We are not that far away personell wise right now. The 3 biggest needs for us are still: CB, Safety, and O-line. While #25 can be CB or O-line depending on if a top 45 CB drop to us, #41 needs to be Safety or we miss the 2 best in Nubin & Kinchens.
The RB group is much stronger and most of the top 10 will still be available @ #88.