Elon, N.C. – Elon University quarterback
Davis Cheek has been named one of 15 finalists for the 2021 Doris Robinson Award, presented annually to a student-athlete who excels both in the classroom and in the community. The award is named after the late school teacher and wife of legendary Grambling State coach Eddie Robinson.
Cheek, who graduated cum laude in strategic communications and is pursuing an MBA at Elon, was already announced as CAA Football's recipient of the Chuck Boone Leadership and Excellence Award. He was also a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, given to the nation's offensive player of the year in college football's Division I subdivision. Cheek received recognition on the CFPA FCS Midseason Watch List as well as the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl Preseason Big Board.
Inducted into the inaugural class of Phoenix Leadership Academy in spring of 2018, Cheek has been a leader within the program since stepping foot onto campus. He has been on the team's leadership council since 2017 and is a two-year team captain. He served on the team's Unity Council since 2020 and was one of eight senior mentors for the 2020 Phoenix Leadership Academy. He was named the CAA Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year from the 2021 spring season.
Cheek has also been active in community service, serving as a school volunteer at Newlin Elementary in the fall of 2020. He was a second-grade guest reader at Clover Garden Elementary School and completed a 160-hour internship with Elon Athletic Communications in the summer of 2020. He has also been a volunteer for "Be The Match" and "KidsCan!".
On the field of competition, Cheek went 253-of-397 passing in the fall of 2021 for a 63.7 completion percentage. He had 17 touchdowns to just five interceptions, leading Elon to a third-place finish in CAA Football. Elon went 6-5 overall and defeated a pair of ranked opponents during the season.
Cheek never threw more than one interception in a game and was named the National Offensive Player of the Week after going 27-of-31 for 328 yards and three total touchdowns (two passing, one rushing) in a win over New Hampshire. He was also 36-of-54 for 384 yards and three touchdowns against William & Mary.
In total, Cheek had four games in which he threw for at least 300 yards and had four games in which he was responsible for at least three touchdowns. In a win at Maine, he was 29-of-37 for 332 yards and four total touchdowns (three passing and one rushing).
He led Elon to wins over two ranked teams, beginning with a 20-7 victory at then-No. 22/21 Richmond where he was 18-of-30 for 197 yards and a passing touchdown. He closed the season by leading Elon to a 43-28 win over No. 25 Rhode Island, finishing 23-of-32 for 285 yards and a passing TD.
