Kentucky lands highest-rated running back in program history, stealing him away from the defending National Champs

2025 running back Marquise Davis had everyone fooled as he made his college decision. The heavy Michigan lean switched gears and announced his pledge to the Kentucky football program on Wednesday.

Davis had both crysal ball predictions on 247Sports predicting Michigan and numerous other predictions in the Wolverines favor as well.

Instead, Davis became the highest-rated running back to land at Kentucky. He is a four-star prospect ranked No. 165 nationally and as the No. 11 overall running back.

Davis finished his junior season with 2,228 rushing yards and 35 touchdowns.

"Two-way player in high school who has been very productive. Plays with physicality on both sides of the ball and runs with tenacity," 247Sports national recuriting analyst Allen Trieu wrote. "Does not go down on first contact. Has a bit of twitch and wiggle to find his way through the wash but is more of a north-south runner than someone who will make lots of defenders miss. Has had a high yards per carry average and can get to the outside but has no verifiable speed times. Looks like a guy who is currently fast enough but isn't a pure speed burner. Catches the ball well out of the backfield when asked to do that.

"Has gotten in the weight room and gotten stronger leading into his senior year and should be a feature back type in college who can handle being leaned on for a lot of carries and tough yardage."

Trieu compares Davis to Miami Dolphins running back Jeff Wilson.

Other programs involved with Davis were Ohio State, Penn State and USC.

Kentucky has had success with recent running backs and Davis could be the next name to thrive in the Wildcats system.

Davis becomes the sixth member of the 2025 recruiting class for Kentucky.