To Panthers’ quarterback Aaron Winchester, wide receiver Robert Davis is one of the best wide receivers in college football.
Statistically, Winchester’s right.
Davis, a senior, is not only the top receiver in the Sun Belt Conference, but ranks in the top 10 of active FBS players with 2,563 career receiving yards.
Davis is also one of the toughest players on the Panthers’ roster because he played in Saturday’s 48-14 loss to Air Force with over 100 degree fever.
“Having a guy like that on your team, he played with a fever — that shows you a lot about his character and his leadership,” Winchester said. “Having him out there is definitely an advantage that we have and we’re going to continue use him to our advantage.”
Davis was the receiving leader for the Panthers on Saturday with three receptions for 79 yards with a long of 40 yards.
Davis also is listed as 13th in all FBS active leaders in career receptions with 166 receptions. On that list, he’s accompanied by Artavis Scott of Clemson and River Cracraft of Washington State. Davis is nine receptions short of breaking current former Panther and current Kansas City Chief Albert Wilson’s Georgia State reception record.
Coach Trent Miles said Davis was absent from Monday’s practice with a virus after extending himself over the weekend, but wasn’t ruled out against No. 9 Wisconsin this Saturday.
Davis’ chances of facing the Badgers this weekend look pretty good to Winchester.
“If it’s up to Robert Davis, he’ll be on the field,” Winchester said.
Not only can he rack up receptions, quarterback and redshirt junior Connor Manning sees Davis as a role model for younger teammates.
“He’s one of the guys who’s never gonna do anything wrong, he’s only going to do everything right,” Manning said. “His work ethic is contagious. Whenever he’s not here, it’s definitely noticeable, but he’s going to be fine. He played his heart out Saturday not feeling good, but I trust he’s gonna be feeling a lot better and make a lot of play Saturday.”
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