At least until 8 p.m. Thursday evening, Richard Corbett “Corby” Davis stands alone as the only IU football player to be selected as the first overall pick in the NFL Draft.
For a while it looked like his playing days would come to an end before he could ever go pro.
Hailing from Lowell, Ind., Davis’ senior season was delayed a year, as he had an issue with boils on his skin that caused him to miss the 1936 campaign.
He came back with a vengeance in 1937.
According to “Glory of Old IU” by Bob Hammel and Kit Klingelhoffer, legendary IU coach Bo McMillin called him “the greatest fullback in America”, adding that “he makes the hard plays look easy, and when the going gets tough, he gets better.”
McMillin’s sentiments would be confirmed, as a wave of honors followed Davis’ exemplary year-delayed senior season. He would be named the IU and Big Ten Most Valuable Player in 1937, and would be an All-American first team selection.
Davis was selected 1st in the 1938 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Rams. He spent four seasons with Cleveland and accumulated 524 all-purpose total yards and scored 4 touchdowns.
He can be seen (far left) with his Cleveland teammates below at the old Municipal Stadium.
Davis left pro football when he was drafted in the service in 1942.
He served as a rifleman with the Second Infantry Division in France during World War II and stormed the beach at Normandy.
He was wounded in action in 1944, and later continued his service in England. His war injuries ended his NFL career.
He later served as an official in the Big Ten and officiated the 1957 Rose Bowl game.
He was inducted into the IU Hall of Fame in 1991. He also ran track at IU.
Corby Davis passed away in 1968.
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