Corey Davis: From College Standout to NFL Pro
Corey Damon Davis, born on January 11, 1995, is an American former professional football player who played as a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). Davis' journey to the NFL began at Wheaton Warrenville South High School in Wheaton, Illinois, and blossomed during his college career with the Western Michigan Broncos.
Early Years and High School Career
The second youngest of seven siblings, Davis showcased his athletic abilities early on. During his youth football years playing for the Wheaton Rams, Davis forged a close friendship with the son of former Tampa Bay Buccaneers player Dan Graham. As a sophomore, he was called up to varsity to play alongside his big brother Titus Davis, who went on to become the all-time leading receiver in touchdowns and yards from scrimmage for Central Michigan University. The duo were part of the Tigers 2010 perfect 14-0 Illinois Class 7A state championship team. As a senior, Corey finished the season with 45 receptions and six touchdowns.
Davis struggled in school throughout his first three years of high school. At the end of his junior year, Davis decided to move out of his family's two-bedroom apartment and move in with the Graham family, and they would later become Davis' legal guardians. The Grahams hired a personal tutor for Davis so that he could get his grade point average high enough to be eligible to receive an NCAA scholarship. Davis did not receive any scholarships until late in his senior year.
Collegiate Career at Western Michigan University
Davis attended Western Michigan University, where he quickly made a name for himself as a dominant wide receiver. He played over 50 games for the Broncos, racking up impressive statistics.
Freshman Year Success (2013)
In 2013, Davis burst onto the scene with 67 catches for 941 yards and six touchdowns, earning MAC Freshman of the Year honors. Finding his way, Corey Davis overcame an unstable upbringing to become the nation's top freshman receiver.
Read also: Education and Career of Corey Lewandowski
Record-Breaking Performances
Davis continued to excel throughout his college career, breaking records and earning accolades. He had 941 yards as a freshman before breaking 1,400 yards in each of the last two seasons. Broncos fans eager to celebrate Davis' record had to hold their breath for quite a while during the game against Toledo, as he was held without any yards until midway through the second quarter. This is the catch Western Michigan's Corey Davis became the FBS all-time leader for career receiving yards on. Davis came into Friday's game ranked seventh in the country in receiving yards this season, while his 17 touchdowns are the most in the nation. No. 17 came in Friday's game on a one-yard connection in the third quarter.
Senior Season (2016)
In 2016, Davis played all 14 games for Western Michigan. He totaled 97 catches for 1,500 yards and 19 touchdowns. Davis' touchdowns tied for first place nationally, while his yard and catch totals ranked No. 7 and No. 8, respectively.
Legacy
Over his college career, Davis amassed 332 catches for 5,285 yards and 52 touchdowns. Corey Davis is now the ALL-TIME LEADING RECEIVER IN THE HISTORY OF FBS FOOTBALL!! He became the NCAA Division I FBS leader in career receiving yards.
Accolades
- MAC Freshman of the Year (2013)
- All-MAC Selection
- Broke the FBS record for career receiving yards
Notable Games
- Made No. 1 play of the day on Sportscenter with a one-handed catch vs. Northern Illinois.
- Named MAC POTW twice following games vs.
- Named Offensive Player of the Game in MAC Championship vs.
- Caught career-high 13 passes for 173 yards and two touchdowns vs.
- Hauled in 10 passes for 154 yards and a touchdown against No.
- Had six catches for 42 yards at No.
- Brought in seven catches for 113 yards vs.
- Named MAC POTW for having seven catches for 163 yards and three touchdowns vs.
- Had career-high 13 catches for 159 yards vs.
- Scored two receiving TDs on six catches for 139 yards at No.
- Had first career 100-yard receiving game vs.
NFL Career
Davis' impressive college career drew the attention of NFL scouts, and he was highly touted leading up to the 2017 NFL Draft.
Tennessee Titans (2017-2020)
The Tennessee Titans selected Corey Davis with the fifth overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. On January 13, 2018, Davis caught his first two NFL touchdowns from Marcus Mariota in the Divisional Round against the New England Patriots. On May 1, 2020, the Titans declined the fifth-year option on Davis' contract, making him a free agent in 2021.
Read also: Collegiate Career: Corey Dillon
2017 Season
- Played in 11 games
- 34 receptions for 375 yards
- No touchdowns
2018 Season
- 16 starts
- 65 receptions for 891 yards
- 4 touchdowns
- Titans WR Corey Davis Snatches Victory from Air with Game-Winning Catch in Overtime
- Corey Davis Scores Game-Winning 11-yard TD
2019 Season
- 11 starts
- 43 receptions for 601 yards
- 2 touchdowns
2020 Season
- 12 starts
- 65 receptions for 984 yards
- 5 touchdowns
- Titans place Corey Davis on COVID-19 list
- Titans' Davis faced Colts day after brother died
- Titans WR Corey Davis plays day after brother's death: 'I tried to honor him tonight'
New York Jets (2021-2023)
Corey Davis signed with the New York Jets as a free agent in 2021.
2021 Season
- 9 starts
- 34 receptions for 492 yards
- 4 touchdowns
- Jets Sign WR Corey Davis
- Jets Land Top Wide Receiver in Free Agency, Signing Corey Davis to Three-Year Deal
- Jets Sign RB Austin Walter, Place WR Corey Davis on Injured Reserve
2022 Season
- 6 starts
- 17 receptions for 254 yards
- No touchdowns
- Corey Davis remains out of practice for Jets
Retirement and Attempted Comeback (2023-2024)
On August 23, 2023, Davis announced his intention to step away from football. However, he later applied for reinstatement to the NFL in March 2024 and had a tryout with the Buffalo Bills. Ultimately, it was reported that he may not return to playing.
- Jets WR Corey Davis Announces Intention to Step Away from Football
- Wide Receiver Corey Davis Applied For Reinstatement, Joining A Free Agent Class Lacking Exciting Playmakers
- Former No. 5 overall pick Corey Davis tries out for Bills
- Corey Davis: May not return to playing
NFL Draft Profile & Analysis
According to his NFL.com draft profile, Davis was a standout competitor all four years and shows incredible talent at tracking the ball and understanding how to match up against cornerbacks. He's been successful both at intermediate and deep parts of the field and is a strong route runner. Davis is described as "a quarterback's friend" and performs especially well in the red zone. "Davis has the route-running and ball skills to become a starter in the league," Zierlein said.
NFL Media analyst Mike Mayock and Sports Illustrated's Chris Burke each ranked Davis as this year's top wide receiver prospect. NFL Media analyst Bucky Brooks listed Davis at No.
Personal Life
Born on Jan. Davis, a native of Wheaton, Illinois. Son of Marilyn Davis. Has two sisters, Michelle (38) and Marquisha (23). During his youth football years playing for the Wheaton Rams, Davis forged a close friendship with the son of former Tampa Bay Buccaneers player Dan Graham. Davis decided to move out of his family's two-bedroom apartment and move in with the Graham family, and they would later become Davis' legal guardians.
Read also: Davis v. Monroe: Key Takeaways
Notable names:Davis' high school has changed names over the years, dating back to 1876 when it was known only as Wheaton High School. No matter the name, however, the school has produced a number of prominent alumni, including former Bears halfback Harold "Red" Grange, who was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Other notable names include actors John and Jim Belushi and professional golfer Kevin Streelman.
Gulf South Conference Stats (Junior College)
Before his time at Western Michigan, Davis played at East Mississippi Community College.
2017 Season
- All-Gulf South Conference
- Played in 13 games
- 49 receptions for 554 yards
- Eight touchdowns (led team)
- Averaged 11.3 yards per reception and 42.6 yards per game
- One punt return for 3 yards
2016 Season
- Played in nine games as wide receiver and on special teams
- Two tackles
- 47 passes for 538 yards
- Eight touchdowns (led team and tied for most overall touchdowns)
- Averaged 11.4 yards per reception
- 528 all-purpose yards
- Team-best 144 yards receiving against Florida Tech
Junior College
- Two-year letterman for head coach Buddy Stephens at East Mississippi Community College
- Helped the EMCC Lions to a two-year composite mark of 20-1, including the 2014 NJCAA National Championship
- Caught 17 passes for 230 yards and four touchdowns as a sophomore
High School
- Was Meridian (Miss.) High School's leading receiver as a prep senior with 42 catches for 697 yards and four touchdowns in 2013
- Season-best totals were seven receptions (67 yds) vs.
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