A Consensus First-Team All American in 1984, running back Kenneth Davis would reach four Super Bowls with the Buffalo Bills
36 | RB Kenneth Davis (1982-84)
TCU Athletics | GoFrogs.com
The 1984 junior campaign for the “Temple Tornado” was an all-time great TCU running back performance. Kenneth Davis was a consensus First-Team All-American and First-Team All-Southwest Conference that season, finishing fifth in Heisman Trophy voting. While Davis had been a prolific ball-carrier during his first two years in Fort Worth, that 1984 season was a breakout explosion, rushing for 1,611 yards on 7.6 yards per carry and 15 touchdowns, adding 200 yards and two scores through the air. Davis’ 1984 was the top TCU rushing season of all-time and still holds as the third most rushing yards, behind only LaDainian Tomlinson in 1999 & 2000.
The standout performance helped bring the Horned Frogs its only eight-win season for four decades, the only such occurrence from 1959-1999 and a rare bowl game appearance of the era, reaching the Bluebonnet Bowl vs. West Virginia. The season was highlighted by a November victory over Texas Tech in Amon G. Carter Stadium as Davis ran wild for 203 yards and three touchdowns, his third 200-yard game of the season.
Davis would become the 41st overall pick in the 1986 NFL Draft, selected in the second round by the Green Bay Packers. He spent three seasons on the Frozen Tundra, accumulating 1,386 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns, leading the team in rushing as a rookie. Davis signed with the Buffalo Bills ahead of the 1989 season where he’d play for six seasons, contributing over 3,000 scrimmage yards and 27 TDs , helping the Bills win four consecutive AFC Championships. Davis scored seven playoff touchdowns, including finding the endzone three times in the 1990 conference final vs. the Raiders to bring the Bills to the first of those four Super Bowl appearances.
