Davis Cheek
Michigan Panthers
Position:Quarterback
Personal information
Born: (1999-02-26) February 26, 1999
Matthews, North Carolina, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:217 lb (98 kg)
Career information
High school:David W. Butler
(Matthews, North Carolina)
College:Elon (2017–2021)
Undrafted:2022
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
  • CAA Football Offensive Rookie of the Year (2017)
  • CAA Football's Scholar-Athlete of the Year (2020)
  • Second Team All-CAA (2021)
Career NFL statistics
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Davis Cheek (born February 26, 1999) is an American football quarterback for the Michigan Panthers of the United Football League (UFL). He also played for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL) and the New Orleans Breakers of the United States Football League (USFL). He played college football at Elon.

Cheek is the Elon's second all-time leader in career passing yards (8,548), attempts (1,149), completions (701), touchdown passes (51), and first all-time leader in career completion percentage (66.8%).[1]

Early life and high school career

Cheek was born on February 26, 1999. He was raised in Matthews, North Carolina and attended David W. Butler High School.[2]

As a junior, Cheek led Butler High to a 9–2 (5–1 in conference) record and a playoff berth while throwing for 2,108 yards and 16 touchdowns, he was named as an all-conference selection.[3][4] The team lost to Mallard Creek High School 35–30 in the second round of the playoffs.[5]

As a senior, Cheek led Butler to an improved 10–1 (6–0 in conference) record, scoring 40+ points in seven out of eleven games that year.[6] After beginning the playoffs with a home 63–0 win against McDowell High School, Cheek beat Mallard Creek 42–28 after they had beaten Butler earlier in the season. Cheek and Butler's season ended against Julius L. Chambers High School in a 50–49 loss. Cheek rushed for one touchdown and threw for another five, one of which came in overtime to give Butler a 49–42 lead. Chambers scored in response and got the two-point conversion for the win.[7]

College career

Cheek played for Elon University (FCS) for five years from 2017 to 2021. During that time, he threw for 8,548 yards passing and 51 touchdowns.

In 2017, Cheek started in all twelve games for Elon, making his debut against Toledo. He earned CAA Football Rookie of the Week and STATS FCS National Freshman of the Week honors after a win over Rhode Island where he threw for 331 yards and three touchdowns.[8] He finished the year being named CAA Football Offensive Rookie of the Year and was a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award after he led Elon to an 8–4 record.[9]

In 2018, Cheek started the first six games of the season before tearing his ACL in a game against Delaware.[10] He led the team to a 4–1 record before his injury, including a season-high 286 yards and a game-winning touchdown against No. 2 James Madison in a 27–24 Elon win.[11] Prior to the season Cheek was named to the CFPA FCS National Player of the Year Watch List.[12]

In 2019, Cheek started all eleven games for Elon, leading the team to a 5–6 record. On homecoming night Cheek and Elon played against Williams & Mary that ended in a 31–29 William & Mary victory after five overtime periods, Cheek threw for 247 yards and two touchdowns in the losing effort including a game tying touchdown pass in fifth overtime.[13] He finished the year eighth in the CAA for total offense with 194.8 yards per game and seventh in passing yards per game with 197.7.[14]

Prior to the 2020 season, Cheek suffered a season-ending injury prior to the team's spring season.[15] Despite being out, Cheek was still selected as CAA Football's Scholar-Athlete of the Year.[16]

In 2021, Cheek started all eleven games in his return from injury, having the best year of his career statistically he led Elon to a 6–5 record including wins over ranked No. 22 Richmond and No. 25 Rhode Island.[17] Cheek opened the season throwing for 312 yards and two touchdown passes in a losing effort against Wofford.[18] After a win against New Hampshire where Cheek threw 328 yards and two touchdowns, he was named National Offensive Player of the Week.[19] He was named as a finalist for the Walter Payton Award.[20][21]

Statistics

Season Games Passing Rushing
GPCompAttPctYardsAvgTDIntRateAttYardsAvgTD
Elon Phoenix
2017 1219032358.82,4317.5158132.4267851.32
2018 67912065.81,0188.542144.816-20-1.31
2019 1117930957.92,1757.0156129.270-32-0.50
2020 DNP
2021 1125339663.92,9267.4175137.5711131.63
Career407011,14961.08,5487.45121135.982241470.76

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jump
6 ft 1+7⁄8 in
(1.88 m)		 216 lb
(98 kg)		 31+7⁄8 in
(0.81 m)		 9+3⁄4 in
(0.25 m)		4.88 s1.71 s2.78 s4.39 s7.35 s33 in
(0.84 m)		9 ft 7 in
(2.92 m)
All values from Elon pro-day.[22]

Carolina Panthers

After going undrafted in the 2022 NFL Draft, Cheek was signed by the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent on April 30, 2022.[23][24] He was waived by the team on July 12, 2022.[25][26] On October 3, 2022, Cheek entered the first session of the 2022 NFL Alumni Academy.[27]

On October 8, 2022, Cheek signed a contract with the XFL for the upcoming 2023 XFL season.[28]

On December 6, 2022, Cheek re-signed with the Carolina Panthers' practice squad.[29]

New Orleans Breakers

On January 14, 2023, Cheek signed with the New Orleans Breakers of the United States Football League (USFL).[30] The Breakers folded when the XFL and USFL merged to create the United Football League (UFL).[31]

Michigan Panthers

On January 5, 2024, Cheek was selected by the Michigan Panthers.[32]

Career statistics

NFL regular season statistics

Year Team Games Passing Rushing
GPGSCmpAttPctYdsY/ATDIntRtgAttYdsAvgTD
2022CAR DNP
Career00000.000.0000.0000.00

USFL regular season statistics

Year Team Games Passing Rushing
GPGSCmpAttPctYdsY/ATDIntRtgAttYdsAvgTD
2023NO ––––––––––––––
Career00000.000.0000.0000.00

Personal life

Cheek is the son of Eric Cheek and Monica Steed. He is engaged to former Elon Academic All-American women's golfer and popular social media influencer, Haley Bookholdt. [33][34]

References

  1. ↑ "Elon Passing Records". elonphoenix.com. Elon University. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Davis Cheek, Butler , Pro-Style Quarterback". 247Sports. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  3. ↑ Hemphill, Chris (August 3, 2016). "Chris' QB Corner: Davis Cheek (Butler HS)". NCPreps. Rivals.com. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Butler High QB Davis Cheek". Charlotte Observer. March 21, 2018. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Butler Football (2015) Schedule". MaxPreps.com. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Butler Football (2016) Schedule". MaxPreps.com. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  7. ↑ "North Carolina High School Football - Zebulon B. Vance gets by David W. Butler". MaxPreps.com. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Cheek Collects Rookie of the Week Honor". Elon University Athletics. October 23, 2017. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Cheek, Cignetti Headline Elon Postseason CAA Football Honorees". Elon University Athletics. November 21, 2017. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  10. ↑ Haley, Jack (October 17, 2018). "Cheek tears ACL, is ruled out for the remainder of season". Elon News Network. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Elon vs. James Madison - Game Recap - October 6, 2018 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  12. ↑ "CFPA Announces 2018 FCS National Performer of the Year Trophy Watch List" (PDF). College Football Performance. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  13. ↑ "William & Mary vs. Elon - Game Recap - November 2, 2019 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  14. ↑ "2019 Football - Overall Statistics". caasports.com. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  15. ↑ Friedlander, Brett (October 31, 2017). "Phoenix continues to rise in FCS national rankings". The North State Journal. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Three Phoenix Receive All-CAA Football Accolades; Cheek Named Scholar-Athlete of the Year". Elon University Athletics. April 21, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  17. ↑ "2021 Elon Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  18. ↑ "Football vs Elon University on 9/4/2021 - Box Score". Wofford College Athletics. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  19. ↑ Haley, Craig (October 25, 2021). "McNeese, Four Players Collect FCS Week 8 National Awards". The Analyst. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  20. ↑ "Elon: Davis Cheek Named Finalist For Walter Payton Award [Archive]". AnyGivenSaturday.com. November 22, 2021. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  21. ↑ Haley, Craig (November 22, 2021). "25 Finalists Named for 2021 FCS Walter Payton Award". The Analyst. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  22. ↑ "Davis Cheek - QB - Elon - 2022 Draft Prospect". draftscout.com. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  23. ↑ Kisamore, Jacob (April 30, 2022). "Former Elon University quarterback Davis Cheek signed by Carolina Panthers". Elon News Network. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  24. ↑ Noble, Kole (July 2, 2022). "'The last place I expected to be': Davis Cheek reflects on journey from Elon to the NFL". Elon News Network. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  25. ↑ Alper, Josh (July 12, 2022). "Panthers waive Davis Cheek". ProFootballTalk. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  26. ↑ Rizzuti, Anthony (July 12, 2022). "Panthers waive QB Davis Cheek after making Baker Mayfield trade official". Panthers Wire. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  27. ↑ "Davis Cheek | NFL Academy". nflalumniacademy.com. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  28. ↑ Rifino, Patrick (October 8, 2022). "Former Hawaii QB Cole McDonald & Elon's Davis Cheek Signed to XFL Contracts". XFL News Hub. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  29. ↑ Rizzuti, Anthony (December 6, 2022). "Panthers make additions to active roster, practice squad on Tuesday". Panthers Wire. USA Today. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  30. ↑ Rifino, Patrick (January 15, 2023). "XFL Hopeful Davis Cheek Signs with USFL's New Orleans Breakers". XFL News Hub. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
  31. ↑ Seifert, Kevin (January 1, 2024). "Newly formed United Football League sets 8 markets, tabs coaches". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  32. ↑ Larsen, James [@JamesLarsenPFN] (January 5, 2024). "BREAKING: The Michigan Panthers selected QB Davis Cheek, and RB Wes Hills during the #USFL Dispersal Draft today, per source" (Tweet). Retrieved January 5, 2024 – via Twitter.
  33. ↑ "Davis Cheek - Football". Elon University Athletics. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  34. ↑ Callihan, Schuyler (December 7, 2022). "Panthers Add a Quarterback to the Practice Squad". SI.com. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
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