Ryan Davis ready to throw it over them mountains

AUBURN | Uncle Rico could throw a football over them mountains in 2004’s Napoleon Dynamite. Auburn’s Ryan Davis reckons he can to the same.

“It’s a 10, if you ask me,” joked Davis about his arm strength.

Odds are, however, Davis will never get to actually show off that so-called cannon of his in a real game.

For one, Davis is a starting receiver and the SEC leader in catches. He’s also a quarterback only in an emergency situation, should injuries befall starter Jarrett Stidham and backup Malik Willis.

“I’m able to adjust to anything pretty much,” Davis said. “Whatever the coaches put on my table, I’m just able to soak it all in and do what’s asked of me.”

No. 15 Auburn is down to two scholarship signal callers after Sean White was dismissed Monday. Davis was a natural choice to start getting limited reps at quarterback after playing the position in high school and being put in a similar situation last season.

“I throw the ball all the time. It’s just something I always love doing,” Davis said. “Quarterback is something I’ve been doing all my life, so it’s never going to completely go away from me at all.”

For now, Davis will continue to put most of his focus on playing receiver. He’s caught 19 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown heading into Saturday night’s SEC opener at Missouri.

“He’s one of those guys that can get open. He just has a really good knack,” Auburn offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey said. “A lot of his are option routes that he’s making pretty good decisions. He’ll catch the ball, pretty much, when it hits his hands.”

Davis credits his experience as a quarterback for helping him to find those open areas as a receiver and develop a strong chemistry with both Stidham and Willis.

“When I came into college, I thought it would translate pretty well for me going receiver because I kind of think how a quarterback would think reading the zones, stuff like that, kind of the timing and where he wants me to be,” Davis said.

Kickoff at Memorial Stadium is set for 6:30 p.m. CT on ESPNU.