Meet Connor Davis: a 27-year-old tight end for the Michigan Panthers in the United States Football League (USFL).
Just one short year ago, this guy was playing in NFL preseason games for the Cleveland Browns.
Davis was very efficient in preseason action, catching seven passes on seven targets; two of those catches were on NFL highlight reels against the New York Giants.
He was waived by the Browns on Oct. 17, 2021.
As the new year rolled around and the USFL officially kicked off, the Panthers selected Davis in the inaugural USFL Draft on March 11, 2022.
He was transferred to the team’s active roster on April 30.
Davis, at 6-foot-8 and 275 pounds, is back on the gridiron and fighting for an opportunity to return to the pentacle of the NFL.
Which shouldn’t be too tall of a task for a guy pushing to make it back to the top, at least according to my sources.
“Haven’t seen a guy like him in 25 years so dedicated to achieving his goal and the work he puts in,” an inside source with the Browns said.
Others close to Davis told me that “his desire with unmatched focus and purpose” is what drives him.
USFL coaches and teammates have also been impressed with the consistent work Davis puts in on a daily basis.
“He is 100 percent the best blocker in the league,” a source close to Davis told me.
“The Browns even timed him at 19.8 mph on covering kick returns,” one source said.
Pretty impressive, that’s for sure.
Taking a look at extended game film from last week, the Panthers tight end was wide open on numerous occasions and easily could have racked up over 100 yards if the quarterback had taken a second or third look down the field.
One thing is certain: Davis is determined to return to the NFL.
The biggest question remaining is, what NFL team will that be?
