Vicky Graff Photo
Really there was no way anyone but Kentucky running back Ray Davis could have been Southeastern Conference Offensive Player of the Week after the show he put on against Florida in UK’s 33-14 win.
Davis had six runs of at least 15 yards, including a career-long 75-yard touchdown burst in the first quarter, and finished the game with 280 yards rushing— third most in UK history. He ran for three touchdowns and also caught a score pass.
He had to share the weekly honor with Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart who also had a historic performance in a win over LSU. He completed 26 of 39 passes for 389 yards and four scores and ran seven times for 50 yards and one touchdown. He threw the game-winning TD pass with 39 seconds left.
Davis didn’t need any last-minute heroics because he shredded the Gators’ highly regarded run defense for 201 yards in the game’s first 20 minutes. Coach Mark Stoops took him out midway of the fourth quarter when he was only 20 yards away from becoming the all-time single-game rushing leader at UK.
Still, the Vanderbilt transfer went over the 3,000-yard career rushing mark and had the second most yards any player ever put up against the Gators.
He became the ninth player in UK history to eclipse 200 yards rushing in a game and his four touchdowns tied the school record for the most total touchdowns in a game.
Davis is also only the sixth SEC player ever to rush for at least 280 yards and score four touchdowns in a SEC game. The first player to do so was Moe Williams of Kentucky in 1995. No player had done it since Derrius Guice of LSU in 2016.
Going into Saturday’s game at No. 1 Georgia, Davis is fourth nationally in rushing yards with 594 yards and eight scores on 76 carries. Auric Estime of Notre Dame leads the way with 672 yards and seven scores but has had 95 carries. Nate Noel of Appalachian State has 123 carries for 651 yards and Jonathon Brooks of Texas has 85 carries for 596 yards.
Former Florida quarterback Jesse Palmer was the ESPN analyst working UK’s win over Florida and raved about Davis’ play.
“I think after that performance today Ray Davis has dropped his name into the Heisman Trophy consideration,” Palmer said before the game ended. “He is a home run hitter. He has all the tools you look for in an outstanding runner.
“He falls forward every time. He is running over linebackers. He is showing every tool in his tool box. He has six runs over 15 yards against a Florida front that had been dominating. He is leading the SEC in total touchdowns with 11 and they need him to take even another step at Georgia next week but he’s really an amazing player.”
