New Bills running back Ray Davis has an amazing story of perseverance
It was expected that Brandon Beane and the Buffalo Bills would select a running back at some point in the NFL Draft, and that expectation came to fruition in the fourth round. The Bills made Ray Davis the 128th overall pick, adding him to their running back room, featuring James Cook and Ty Johnson. He adds terrific vision and outstanding receiving skills, giving offensive coordinator Joe Brady another weapon on offense that he can utilize.
Davis had incredibly productive seasons with multiple teams at the collegiate level. He had back-to-back 1,000-plus yard rushing seasons with Vanderbilt in 2022 and Kentucky in 2023, becoming the first running back to do so with two different SEC teams. He was outstanding in the receiving game too, leading all FBS running backs with seven receiving touchdowns.
More inspiring than Ray Davis's impressive stats and achievements is his remarkable journey of perseverance. He didn't have your typical childhood upbringing, instead spending eight years of his youth in the foster care system as an eight-year-old, until he was 16.
"I grew up in the foster care system in San Francisco for eight years. I had to become a man at 12, so I think just had to adapt to my situation and my environment and understand that I had to raise myself.
- Ray Davis
So I just knew right then and there it was about staying focused, trying to continue to survive and that was the biggest thing I lived by and that's what made me the man I am today."
These are the human stories I love to hear and it makes it easy to root for people like this. He is joining a Bills backfield led by James Cook, and adds that physical aspect to the running back room. But he isn't just a "three yards and a cloud of dust" kind of back. He can get it done in the passing game too, which gives Joe Brady more versatility to work with. He'll likely push to be the Bills number two running back and could get some real playing time in 2024.
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