Former UCF standout wide receiver Gabe Davis returned to campus this week, attending practice and praising head coach Scott Frost’s impact on the program. In an interview with In The Zone on 96.9 The Game, Davis reflected on his time under Frost, shared his recovery progress after an injury-shortened 2024 NFL season, and discussed his work with young athletes at The Draft Academy in Winter Park.
Former UCF star wide receiver Gabe Davis returned to familiar turf this week, attending practice and Thursday’s scrimmage as the Knights continued preseason camp.
On Friday afternoon, the Sanford native joined In The Zone with Brandon Kravitz on 96.9 The Game, expressing his excitement over Scott Frost’s return.
“It just feels like home every single time I come here,” Davis said. “I’m happy to see that Frost is doing the right thing with these guys, and I know he’ll do right by this team.
“You can tell by his staff, guys like JJ (Jordan Johnson) and McKenzie (Milton) who I played with are now (coaching under him). That shows you how much he truly does care about his players and really wants to see them succeed and gives them opportunities to live out their dreams and their goals.”
Davis played his freshman season at UCF in 2017 under Frost before finishing his college career with two seasons under Josh Heupel. In his final UCF season in 2019, Davis caught 72 passes for 1,241 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Even though his time with Frost was short, the impression was lasting.
“With Frost, you knew he truly cared about you and was genuine about your success on and off the field,” Davis said. “That brings the team together. It makes you want to fight for each other. Having Frost back is what UCF needed, and you can see it in the relationships he’s kept with his players.”
Davis spoke about the emotional moment when Frost announced his departure for Nebraska following UCF’s win in the American Athletic Championship Game.
“When he announced that he was leaving in the team room, Frost was all red. I mean, everybody was in there crying,” Davis said. “We were upset. We were hurt because we didn’t want him to go. That’s how important he was to us and our team.
“A lot of guys, it just hit us hard, man. Like, I remember I went up to his front office and I was crying and gave him a hug, told him I love him and I’m gonna miss him. I wish I could have kept playing with him. Only got to play with him one year, unfortunately, but now look at him, now he’s back home.
“I will always have that guy’s back no matter what. Frost has been one of the best coaches I’ve ever had. Treated me just like a son. I’ve got nothing but love and respect for him and happy to see him right where he needs to be.”
Recovering from injury, looking for next NFL stop
A fourth-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Davis spent his first four seasons with the Buffalo Bills before signing a three-year, $39 million contract with Jacksonville in 2024. He was never fully healthy with the Jaguars, playing through a lingering PCL sprain before suffering a torn meniscus that ended his season in mid-November.
“I was definitely not 100 percent last year, but I’ve been focusing on myself, getting healthy,” Davis said. “I’m about 85 percent right now, running routes, doing change-of-direction work, and it’s been good. I’ll definitely be somewhere this year. I’m only 26 years old and I’ve got a lot of football left.”
Davis confirmed he has already visited the San Francisco 49ers, New York Giatnts and Pittsburgh Steelers, with multiple teams still showing interest. He expects to take more visits in the coming weeks.
“I’ve been keeping in contact with some people,” Davis said. “I’m just excited to see what my career is like this year. I’ve got a lot of optimism about what’s going to happen here in the next month or two.”
Teaching the next generation at The Draft Academy
In addition to staying in shape for an NFL return, Davis continues to run The Draft Academy, his Winter Park training facility for aspiring and current athletes. This Saturday, he’s inviting young players to participate in a catching camp focused on using the Jugs machine to refine hand-eye coordination and proper catching techniques.
“It looks easy until you get on it,” Davis said. “The Jugs can go faster than any quarterback can throw. It’s great for working ball positioning, placement, and catching in different spots without depending on someone to throw it to you. I want to break things down for kids so they understand why you catch the ball a certain way.”
Registration for the event is available at thedraftacademy.com or through the facility’s Instagram page.
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Category: General Sports
