By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
After graduating from Ellsworth High School, Kaden Davis had
one offer to play junior college football. The former Class 3A football player
from Ellsworth, Kansas is now competing for a roster spot in the NFL for the
Denver Broncos.
Davis noted there were moments during his sophomore and junior years at
Ellsworth that told him he wanted to keep pursuing football past high school.
“I found out through track that I have the speed to do this,” said Davis. “I
thought with my athletic ability, playing three sports, I had the potential to
make it this far. I just had to stick to the process.”
Davis broke his wrist his junior year at Ellsworth and missed a few games
because of the injury. Watching his teammates play only reinforced his love for
the game.
“I was able to train at the Sharp Performance in Salina that summer, and they
were able to help me reach my potential,” said Davis. “They helped me see a
vision that it would be possible to do all this.”
Davis had 29 receptions for 837 yards and 15 touchdowns in nine games his
senior year at Ellsworth. In 2017, he became the fourth player in Ellsworth
school history, and first since 1992, to be selected to the Kansas Shrine Bowl.
Talking with collegiate coaches, Davis was told he didn’t get the exposure
other kids were getting at bigger schools and colleges questioned the athletes he was
facing. With a few walk-on opportunities, Davis took his lone offer from Butler
Community College to play wide receiver.
“Arriving to fall camp at Butler was overwhelming for the first couple of
weeks,” said Davis. “That was my first time learning a college offense. I was
adjusting to playing against press coverage and guys that may have been Division
I bounce backs and more developed.”
Primarily used as a punt returner his first year at Butler, Davis had 21
catches for 245 yards and a touchdown his sophomore year for the Grizzlies.
“I had a pretty good idea of what I would be going against for that sophomore
year,” said Davis. “I put my foot on the gas that offseason so I could get
myself to a good program after Butler.”
After leaving Butler, Kansas State University wanted Davis to walk-on to their
football program. Davis also had offers from Northwest Missouri State
University, Emporia State University and Pittsburg State University.
“I took a visit out to Northwest Missouri and really enjoyed the culture,” said
Davis. “They had good facilities allowing you to train all through the winter."
Davis became a Bearcat again, spending three years at Northwest Missouri. The
Division II university in Maryville, Missouri is a national powerhouse in
football, having won six national championships.
“I didn’t have a great junior year at Northwest,” said Davis. “I didn’t have
much on the stat sheet or much for film. I just stuck to the process, kept
grinding the next couple of years, knowing my opportunity was going to come
soon.”
Davis had a COVID-19 pandemic year in 2020-2021 where there was no official
season. His fifth year out of high school, and senior year at Northwest, Davis
led the Bearcats with 10 touchdown receptions while gaining 703 yards receiving.
Northwest finished 11-2 and made a run in the Division II playoffs.
“Not being at a Division I school kind of hurts for getting looks at the NFL,”
said Davis. “My grandpa and family always told me ‘if you’re good enough, they
will find you.’ That’s what happened.”
Almost immediately after his senior season at Northwest, Davis was getting in
contact with Michael Johnson Performance in Texas to train. Davis also competed
in the College Gridiron Showcase last January in Fort Worth, Texas.
“That showcase allowed me to go against Division I, FBS, Power 5 guys,” said
Davis. “That showcase allowed me to get looks and speak with NFL scouts.”
When the NFL Draft rolled around in late April, Davis was hopeful to hear his
name called. Out of the 262 selections made in seven rounds, Davis was not
selected by an NFL team.
“A couple teams told me I was on their board,” said Davis. “I got my first call
at the end of the sixth round, and I thought that was going to be a pick. It
turned out to be my first offer for free agency.”
Going undrafted, Davis had a few teams to choose from to work out as a free
agent, but ultimately chose Denver.
“Denver reached out to me during the seventh round,” said Davis. “I got to talk
with head coach Nathaniel Hackett. I felt comfortable with the things he was
telling me. It felt like a good fit.”
Davis arrived to Denver and spent five weeks going through the team’s organized
team activities (OTAs) and minicamp. The boy from Ellsworth, Kansas, whom
received one offer to play collegiate football, practicing with NFL veterans at
the highest level.
“My first day was surreal,” said Davis. “It’s everything you dream about as a
kid and then you’re finally in the facility doing it for real. It felt good.”
Out of all the Broncos players Davis has worked out with so far, he said cornerback
Pat Surtain II has impressed him the most.
Now waiting for Denver’s training camp to start, Davis has returned to Texas to
train. A typical day has him waking up at seven o’clock and looking at the
playbook.
“Around 9 o’clock, I usually run routes with some guys and do that for an hour
or hour and a half,” said Davis. “I come back home, check out my playbook some
more. I hit the gym in the afternoon. Then I’ll go back to the field and work
on footwork and do a walkthrough of the plays.”
Operating mostly with no huddle throughout college, Davis acknowledged it’s a
lot different going into an NFL huddle and hearing the plays. He now rehearses saying the play, lines up and runs through each play.
“The playbook is really big,” said Davis. “You really have to know everything
because in Denver the receivers play all three positions. You have to know
where to line up and what your assignment is every play.”
Davis said the Broncos coaching staff has discussed his role with the team would have an
emphasis as a punt and kick returner and special teams member.
Every NFL team is allowed 90 players on their roster at this point of the offseason. Following the final preseason game in August, rosters will be trimmed
to 53.
“I feel good about my chances to make the final team,” said Davis. “There is a
lot of work left to put in, but I feel good about it right now. I’m ready to
get back there and show them.”
The Broncos training camp begins July 27 in Dove Valley, Colorado
and the team plays their first preseason game Aug. 13 against Dallas.
The Ellsworth native continues to follow what his grandpa told him, “if you’re
good enough, they will find you.”
“I just continue to work and bet on myself,” added Davis.
Listen below to the full interview with Davis and Eagle Radio's Cole Reif.