Gabriel Davis (born April 1, 1999) is an American professional football wide receiver for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at UCF and was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL draft. Davis has been nicknamed "Big-Game Gabe" due to his performance in important games.[1]

Gabe Davis
refer to caption
Davis with the Buffalo Bills in 2021
No. 0 – Jacksonville Jaguars
Position:Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (1999-04-01) April 1, 1999 (age 25)
Fernandina Beach, Florida, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:225 lb (102 kg)
Career information
High school:Seminole
(Sanford, Florida)
College:UCF (2017–2019)
NFL draft:2020 / round: 4 / pick: 128
Career history
Roster status:Injured reserve
Career highlights and awards
NFL record
  • Most receiving touchdowns in a playoff game: 4
Career NFL statistics as of Week 6, 2024
Receptions:180
Receiving yards:2,934
Receiving touchdowns:29
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Early life

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Davis attended Seminole High School in Sanford, Florida. While there, he played high school football. As a senior, he had 69 receptions for 1,347 yards and 17 touchdowns, earning him First-team Florida Class 8A All-State honors.[2] He committed to the University of Central Florida (UCF) to play college football.[3]

College career

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As a true freshman at UCF in 2017, Davis played in and started all 13 games, recording 27 receptions for 391 yards and four touchdowns.[4] As a sophomore in 2018, he started 12 of 13 games and had 53 receptions for 815 yards and seven touchdowns.[5] He returned as a starter his junior year in 2019, catching 72 passes for 1241 yards.[6][7] After the season, Davis entered the 2020 NFL draft.[8]

College statistics

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Gabriel Davis
Season Team GP Receiving
Rec Yds Avg Lng TD
2017 UCF 10 27 391 14.5 80 4
2018 UCF 12 53 815 15.4 75 7
2019 UCF 12 72 1,241 17.2 73 12
Career 34 152 2,447 16.1 80 23
Source: UCF Knights Website

Professional career

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 2 in
(1.88 m)
216 lb
(98 kg)
32+14 in
(0.82 m)
9+14 in
(0.23 m)
4.54 s 1.55 s 2.66 s 4.59 s 7.08 s 35.0 in
(0.89 m)
10 ft 4 in
(3.15 m)
14 reps
All values from NFL Combine[9][10]

Buffalo Bills

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2020 season

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The Buffalo Bills selected Davis in the fourth round with the 128th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.[11] Davis signed a four-year, $3.99 million contract, including a $699,000 signing bonus, with the Bills on May 8, 2020.[12] In Week 2, against the Miami Dolphins, he scored his first professional touchdown on a six-yard reception from Josh Allen.[13] The following week, Davis would catch four passes for a career-high 81 yards. During week four, Davis caught one pass, a 26-yard touchdown from Josh Allen. In Week 12 against the Los Angeles Chargers, Davis recorded three catches for 79 yards, including a 20-yard touchdown reception from fellow wide receiver Cole Beasley during the 27–17 win.[14] Overall, Davis finished his rookie season with 35 receptions for 599 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns.[15]

During the Wild Card Round of the playoffs against the Indianapolis Colts, Davis caught four passes for 85 yards, including two sideline grabs that set up Buffalo's second touchdown, as the Bills won 27–24, their first playoff win in 25 years.[16]

2021 season

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In Week 10 against the New York Jets, Davis caught all three of his targets for 105 yards, a season high.[17] Overall in the 2021 season, Davis appeared in 16 games, of which he started four. He had 35 receptions on 63 targets for 539 yards and six touchdowns, as the Bills finished the regular season with a 11–6 record to win the AFC East for a second consecutive season.[18][19] In the Wild Card Round, he caught two passes for 41 yards and a touchdown in Buffalo's 47–17 rout of the New England Patriots.[20]

In the Divisional Round against the Kansas City Chiefs, Davis had a breakout performance, catching a career-high 201 yards on eight catches, and scoring an NFL record four receiving touchdowns in a playoff game during the 42–36 overtime loss. He became just the ninth player in NFL history to record 200+ receiving yards in a playoff game.[21]

2022 season

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During Week 5 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Davis finished with 171 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Davis had a career-high 98-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter and a one-handed catch for a 62-yard touchdown four drives later as the Bills won 38–3.[22] Davis's 98-yard catch tied the record for longest touchdown reception in franchise history.[23] Davis finished the 2022 season with 48 receptions for 836 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns in 15 games.[24]

In the Wild Card Round of the playoffs, Davis had six receptions for 113 receiving yards and a touchdown in the 34–31 victory over the Dolphins.[25]

2023 season

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Davis was named one of the Bills' captains before the start of the season.[26] In Week 5, against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Davis had six receptions for 100 yards and a touchdown in the 25–20 loss.[27] The loss was the last game of a four-game stretch for Davis where he scored a touchdown in each game.[28] In Week 16 against the Chargers, he had four receptions for 130 yards and a touchdown in the 24–22 win.[29] He finished the 2023 season with 45 receptions for 746 yards and seven touchdowns.[28]

Jacksonville Jaguars

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On March 13, 2024, Davis signed a three-year contract for $39 million with the Jacksonville Jaguars.[30] On November 18, Jaguars coach Doug Pederson announced that Davis would miss the rest of the season due a torn meniscus in his left knee; Davis ended the season with 20 catches for 239 yards and two touchdowns.[31]

NFL career statistics

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Legend
Led the league
Bold Career high

Regular season

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General Receiving Fumbles
Year Team GP GS Tgt Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Fum Lost
2020 BUF 16 11 62 35 599 17.1 56 7 1 0
2021 BUF 16 4 63 35 549 15.7 49 6 0 0
2022 BUF 15 15 93 48 836 17.4 98 7 1 1
2023 BUF 15 15 76 43 746 16.9 57 7 1 1
Career 62 45 294 161 2,730 16.8 98 27 3 2

Postseason

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Teams Receiving Fumbles
Year Team GP GS Tgt Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Fum Lost
2020 BUF 3 2 11 4 85 21.3 37 0 0 0
2021 BUF 2 0 13 10 242 24.2 75 5 0 0
2022 BUF 2 2 13 9 147 18.4 33 1 0 0
2023 BUF 0 0 Did not play due to injury
Career 7 4 37 22 474 21.5 75 6 0 0

Personal life

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Davis was raised by his mother, Alana Davis. He has two siblings, Jordan and Kayla.[32] Davis grew up an Orlando Magic fan, growing up in the Central Florida area and playing at UCF.

References

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  1. ^ Kimble, Kade (July 1, 2023). "Bills' 'Big-Game Gabe' Davis: Pressure in Contract Year?". SI.com. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  2. ^ "Gabriel Davis - 2019 - Football". UCF Athletics. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
  3. ^ Hays, Chris (June 5, 2016). "UCF No. 1 on Sanford Seminole WR Gabe Davis' recruiting list". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  4. ^ "Gabriel Davis - Football 2017". UCF Knights. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  5. ^ Hays, Chris (August 31, 2019). "UCF receiver Gabe Davis has pro mentality during what could be final season with Knights". mcall.com. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  6. ^ Murschel, Matt (October 1, 2019). "UCF star Gabe Davis pushing to be best receiver in nation". orlandosentinel.com. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
  7. ^ Murphy, Brian (September 19, 2019). "UCF WR Gabe Davis hungry for more after dominating Stanford star CB Paulson Adebo". orlandosentinel.com. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
  8. ^ Yun, Joseph (December 4, 2019). "UCF WR Gabriel Davis declares for the 2020 NFL Draft". With the First Pick. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  9. ^ "Gabriel Davis Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
  10. ^ "2020 Draft Scout Gabriel Davis, Central Florida NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  11. ^ Parrino, Matt (April 25, 2020). "Buffalo Bills select UCF WR Gabriel Davis with No. 128 pick in 4th round". Syracuse.com. Retrieved April 27, 2020.
  12. ^ Murschel, Matt (May 8, 2020). "Former UCF receiver Gabe Davis inks 4-year, $3.99 million deal with Buffalo Bills". orlandosentinel.com. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  13. ^ "Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins – September 20th, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  14. ^ "Los Angeles Chargers at Buffalo Bills – November 29th, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  15. ^ "Gabriel Davis 2020 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  16. ^ Thompson, Cole (January 9, 2021). "Gabriel Davis is becoming a star for the Bills in this playoff game". FanSided. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  17. ^ "Bills' Gabriel Davis: Bounces back big". CBSSports.com. November 15, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  18. ^ "Gabriel Davis 2021 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  19. ^ "2021 Buffalo Bills Statistics & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  20. ^ "Wild Card - New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills - January 15th, 2022". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  21. ^ Salvador, Joseph (January 24, 2022). "Gabriel Davis Catches NFL Playoff Record Four Touchdown Passes in Loss to Chiefs". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  22. ^ "Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Bills - October 9th, 2022". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  23. ^ Roscher, Liz (October 9, 2022). "Bills QB Josh Allen connects with WR Gabe Davis for mind-bending one-handed TD catch". sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  24. ^ "Gabriel Davis 2022 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  25. ^ "Wild Card - Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills - January 15th, 2023". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  26. ^ Fierro, Nick (September 11, 2023). "Gabe Davis Talks 'Special' Feeling Ahead of Jets Matchup". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  27. ^ "Jacksonville Jaguars at Buffalo Bills - October 8th, 2023". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  28. ^ a b "Gabriel Davis 2023 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  29. ^ "Buffalo Bills at Los Angeles Chargers - December 23rd, 2023". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  30. ^ Oehser, John (March 13, 2024). "Official: Wide Receiver Gabe Davis Agreed to Terms with Jaguars". Jaguars.com. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
  31. ^ DiRocco, Michael (November 18, 2024). "Jaguars WR Gabe Davis has season-ending torn meniscus". ESPN.
  32. ^ Davis, Gabriel (May 10, 2020). "Thank you, Mom!". Buffalo Bills. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
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