Kentucky Football Brings In Former Vanderbilt Star As Honorary Captain For Vanderbilt Matchup – Sports Illustrated

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LEXINGTON, KY—Former Vanderbilt and Kentucky running back Ray Davis has clearly made his allegiances known. If they weren't already, they are now.
Davis started his career at Vanderbilt and was the MVP of one of the best early wins of the Clark Lea era in Lexington in 2022. He ran for 129 yards in that game on 5.0 yards per carry and a touchdown. He left Vanderbilt for Kentucky ahead of his final college season, though, and appears to identify more with Kentucky than Vanderbilt as he occupies an NFL roster spot with the Buffalo Bills. 
Saturday, Davis was an honorary captain for Kentucky and met Kentucky coach Will Stein and his team outside their practice facility as they walked across the sidewalk and into Kroger Field for their week eight matchup with Vanderbilt. 
Davis was one of the best players of the early Lea era and was sorely missed in 2023 after he left Vanderbilt for Kentucky. He never made a bowl game in his two years as a Vanderbilt player, but he set a physical tone for it and was as reliable a running back as Lea has had in his tenure.
Former Vanderbilt and Kentucky running back Ray Davis is an honorary captain for Kentucky today for Vanderbilt’s matchup with Kentucky. pic.twitter.com/zsDbOOPUSL
When Davis returned to FirstBank Stadium in 2023 as a Kentucky player, he went for 78 yards on 4.6 yards per carry. Davis ran for two touchdowns in that 45-28 Kentucky win, in which the Wildcats ran away from Lea's team early and never let it back into the game.
Davis clearly enjoyed his time at Kentucky and has been significantly more vocal about representing the Wildcats than Vanderbilt since he joined the Bills. Saturday was the most public embrace of Kentucky and shooing of Vanderbilt that Davis has conducted, though.
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Joey Dwyer is the lead writer on Vanderbilt Commodores On SI. He found his first love in college sports at nearby Lipscomb University and decided to make a career of telling its best stories. He got his start doing a Notre Dame basketball podcast from his basement as a 14-year-old during COVID and has since aimed to make that 14-year-old proud. Dwyer has covered Vanderbilt sports for three years and previously worked for 247 Sports and Rivals. He contributes to Seth Davis' Hoops HQ, Basket Under Review and Mainstreet Nashville.
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