IRVING, Texas (Nov. 25, 2019) – The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Football Hall of Fame announced today that Charles Davis, current game analyst for the NFL on FOX and former University of Tennessee standout safety, will emcee the 62nd NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by ETT at the New York Hilton Midtown on Dec. 10. The event will be live streamed on ESPN3 starting at 8:30 p.m. ET and can be watched via this link.
 
"Charles Davis is one of the most gifted sports broadcasters in the industry, having charismatically provided invaluable analysis for some of the biggest games in college football history and now for the NFL on FOX," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. "Charles has an immense passion and knowledge of college football. His broadcasting style combines detailed preparation with an easy-to-understand delivery, making him exceedingly popular among audiences across the country. We are so glad he has agreed to emcee one of college football's marquee events."
 
This will be Davis' first time emceeing the NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by ETT, securing his place among a prestigious list of individuals who have donated their skills to host the fabled event, including TV Host Ed Sullivan, TV Host of "What's My Line" John Charles Daly, U.S. Senator George Murphy, Rutgers University President Mason W. Gross, CBS News Anchor Harry Smith (now with NBC News) and ABC Sports broadcaster Chris Schenkel, who emceed the event for 28 consecutive years from 1968 to 1995. Other notable sports broadcasters who have emceed the event include CBS Sports' Tim Brando (now with FOX Sports), ESPN/ABC's Rece Davis, Chris Fowler and Joe Tessitore, CBS Sports' Verne Lundquist and NBC Sports' Mike Tirico.
 
"Charles' talents will provide an unforgettable night for all of the evening's honorees," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. "He has become an inspiration and idol for many, and all of the honorees from the Hall of Famers to the scholar-athletes will get a thrill from being on stage with him. We are elated to have him emcee our Annual Awards Dinner during college football's 150th season."
 
Formerly the FOX College Football lead analyst, Davis called three consecutive BCS National Championship Games from 2007-2009. He previously served as the emcee for the NFF Leadership Hall of Fame induction ceremonies of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (2014), Atlanta Falcons Owner and Chairman Arthur Blank (2018) and Miami Dolphins Chairman/Managing General Partner Stephen M. Ross (2019).
 
As the culmination of the 2019 regular season, the 62nd NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by ETT provides the stage for the induction of the 2019 College Football Hall of Fame Class Presented by ETT, the awarding of the 2019 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards Presented by Fidelity Investments, the announcement of the recipient of the 30th William V. Campbell Trophy® Presented by Mazda and the presentation of several major awards.
 
Famed actor and former UCLA quarterback Mark Harmon will receive the 2019 Gold Medal, the NFF's highest honor. The other 2019 NFF Major Award recipients include former Saint Louis, Maryland and North Carolina State Athletics Director Deborah Yow (NFF John L. Toner Award for excellence in athletics administration), the Voice of the Alabama Crimson Tide Eli Gold (NFF Chris Schenkel Award for excellence in broadcasting) and National Coordinator of College Football O­fficiating Rogers Redding (NFF Legacy Award).
 
The 2019 College Football Hall of Fame Class Presented by ETT includes: Terrell Buckley (Florida State), Rickey Dixon (Oklahoma), London Fletcher (John Carroll [OH]), Jacob Green (Texas A&M), Torry Holt (North Carolina State), Raghib "Rocket" Ismail (Notre Dame), Darren McFadden (Arkansas), Jake Plummer (Arizona State), Troy Polamalu (Southern California), Joe Thomas (Wisconsin), Lorenzo White (Michigan State), Patrick Willis (Mississippi), Vince Young (Texas) and coaches Dennis Erickson (Idaho, Wyoming, Washington State, Miami [FL], Oregon State, Arizona State) and Joe Taylor (Howard, Virginia Union, Hampton, Florida A&M).
 
The members of the 2019 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments, who will vie as finalists for The William V. Campbell Trophy® Presented by Mazda, include Spencer Blackburn (Eastern Washington), Rodrigo Blankenship (Georgia), Jordan Fuller (Ohio State), Alex Goettl (Minnesota State), Justin Herbert (Oregon), Adam Holtorf (Kansas State), Michael Lohmeier (Carnegie Mellon [PA]), Jordan Mack (Virginia), Dante Olson (Montana), Jelani Taylor (Cornell), Casey Toohill (Stanford) and Jon Wassink (Western Michigan). They will be honored at the NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by ETT on Dec. 10, where one will be named the recipient of the Campbell Trophy® Presented by Mazda as the nation's top football scholar-athlete.
 
For more information regarding the 62nd NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by ETT, please contact Will Rudd at 972.556.1000 or wrudd@footballfoundation.com.
 
 
Charles Davis's Bio
 
A recent inductee into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, Charles Davis is in his fifth season as a game analyst for the NFL on FOX, calling a full slate of games alongside Kevin Burkhardt and Pam Oliver. Since 2016, Davis has been the game analyst voice for EA Sports' Madden beginning with "Madden NFL 17."
 
Davis moved into the FOX NFL booth full-time in 2015. He called his first NFL playoff game when the New Orleans Saints defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 20-14 in the 2019 NFC Divisional Playoff Round.
 
As the former lead analyst on FOX's college football coverage, Davis was on the call for three consecutive BCS National Championship Games from 2007-09, also covering the 2008 Sugar Bowl and 2009 Orange Bowl. Perhaps Davis's most memorable college football broadcast experience with the network came as he was in the booth for underdog Boise State's thrilling come-from-behind victory over perennial powerhouse Oklahoma in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl, in which the Broncos executed the "Statue of Liberty" play for the game-winning two-point conversion in overtime.
 
Also possessing an extensive background in the game of golf, Davis served as an on-course reporter during FOX Sports' inaugural coverage of the U.S. Open Championship in 2015.
 
Prior to joining the FOX Sports family in 2006, Davis worked as the lead analyst for TBS' college football coverage of the Big 12 and Pac-10 Conferences. During that time, he also worked as a game analyst for NBC's coverage of the Arena Football League from 2003-06.
 
Davis has covered the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament for CBS, the NBA playoffs for TNT and both BIG EAST and Conference USA basketball for ESPN Plus' regional coverage.
 
He continues to stay connected to college football year-round, intensifying his study of players who are eligible for the annual NFL Draft at the conclusion of each college football season. With a regular place on the NFL Network's draft lead-up programming, Davis has gained notoriety and positive reviews for his depth of familiarity with prospects across all ranges of the draft. Each year he staffs the Senior Bowls and NFL Combines, and has also been a part of NFLN's live draft weekend coverage since 2007.
 
Davis earned a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Tennessee and also completed his master's in history while at the school. A four-year starter as a defensive back for the Vols from 1983-86, Davis was a member of the Academic All-SEC Team and appeared in 39 career games, including the 1986 Sugar Bowl win over Miami (FL). During his time in Knoxville, he posted 234 tackles (146 solo), 13 interceptions, four fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles. Following his career at Tennessee, he signed as an undrafted free agent with the Dallas Cowboys and participated in the club's 1987 training camp.
 
Immediately after retiring from football, Davis performed a variety of different roles during the 1990s. He served as an assistant athletics director at Stanford University, director of the United States Olympic Training Center and also became the first African American tournament director in PGA Tour history when he ran the Disney Golf Classic from 1998-2000.
 
Born in Elizabethton, Tennessee, Davis and his wife, Lisa, have two children, a daughter, Taylor, and a son, Parker. In his free time, he enjoys being with his family and reading political and historical genres.
 

All-Time List of NFF Annual Award Dinner Emcees
 
1958 - George Murphy, U.S. Senator, Actor and NFF President
1959 - George Murphy, U.S. Senator, Actor and NFF President
1960 - Mason W. Gross, President of Rutgers University
1961 - Mason W. Gross, President of Rutgers University
1962 - Mason W. Gross, President of Rutgers University
1963 - Mason W. Gross, President of Rutgers University
1964 - Ed Sullivan, TV Host of the Ed Sullivan Show
1965 - John Charles Daly, TV Host of What's My Line
1966 - John Charles Daly, TV Host of What's My Line
1967 - Ed Sullivan, TV Host of the Ed Sullivan Show
1968 - Chris Schenkel, ABC Sports Broadcaster
1969 - Chris Schenkel, ABC Sports Broadcaster
1970 - Chris Schenkel, ABC Sports Broadcaster
1971 - Chris Schenkel, ABC Sports Broadcaster
1972 - Chris Schenkel, ABC Sports Broadcaster
1973 - Chris Schenkel, ABC Sports Broadcaster
1974 - Chris Schenkel, ABC Sports Broadcaster
1975 - Chris Schenkel, ABC Sports Broadcaster
1976 - Chris Schenkel, ABC Sports Broadcaster
1977 - Chris Schenkel, ABC Sports Broadcaster
1978 - Chris Schenkel, ABC Sports Broadcaster
1979 - Chris Schenkel, ABC Sports Broadcaster
1980 - Chris Schenkel, ABC Sports Broadcaster
1981 - Chris Schenkel, ABC Sports Broadcaster
1982 - Chris Schenkel, ABC Sports Broadcaster
1983 - Chris Schenkel, ABC Sports Broadcaster
1984 - Chris Schenkel, ABC Sports Broadcaster
1985 - Chris Schenkel, ABC Sports Broadcaster
1986 - Chris Schenkel, ABC Sports Broadcaster
1987 - Chris Schenkel, ABC Sports Broadcaster
1988 - Chris Schenkel, ABC Sports Broadcaster
1989 - Chris Schenkel, ABC Sports Broadcaster
1990 - Chris Schenkel, ABC Sports Broadcaster
1991 - Chris Schenkel, ABC Sports Broadcaster
1992 - Chris Schenkel, ABC Sports Broadcaster
1993 - Chris Schenkel, ABC Sports Broadcaster
1994 - Chris Schenkel, ABC Sports Broadcaster
1995 - Chris Schenkel, ABC Sports Broadcaster
1996 - Chris Fowler, ESPN/ABC Sports Broadcaster
1997 - Chris Fowler, ESPN/ABC Sports Broadcaster
1998 - Chris Fowler, ESPN/ABC Sports Broadcaster
1999 - Tim Brando, CBS Sports Broadcaster (now with FOX Sports)
2000 - Chris Fowler, ESPN/ABC Sports Broadcaster
2001 - Mike Tirico, ESPN/ABC Sports Broadcaster (now with NBC Sports)
2002 - Tim Brando, CBS Sports Broadcaster (now with FOX Sports)
2003 - Chris Fowler, ESPN/ABC Sports Broadcaster
2004 - Mike Tirico, ESPN/ABC Sports Broadcaster (now with NBC Sports)
2005 - Chris Fowler, ESPN/ABC Sports Broadcaster
2006 - Verne Lundquist, CBS Sports Broadcaster
2007 - Chris Fowler, ESPN/ABC Sports Broadcaster
2008 - Rece Davis, ESPN/ABC Sports Broadcaster
2009 - Chris Fowler, ESPN/ABC Sports Broadcaster
2010 - Harry Smith, CBS News Anchor (now with NBC News)
2011 - Rece Davis, ESPN/ABC Sports Broadcaster
2012 - Rece Davis, ESPN/ABC Sports Broadcaster
2013 - Rece Davis, ESPN/ABC Sports Broadcaster
2014 - Rece Davis, ESPN/ABC Sports Broadcaster
2015 - Mike Tirico, ESPN/ABC Sports Broadcaster (now with NBC Sports)
2016 - Mike Tirico, NBC Sports Broadcaster
2017 - Joe Tessitore, ESPN Sports Broadcaster
2018 - Joe Tessitore, ESPN Sports Broadcaster
2019 - Charles Davis, FOX Sports Broadcaster
 
 
About The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame
Founded in 1947 with early leadership from General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army coach Earl "Red" Blaik and immortal journalist Grantland Rice, The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame is a non-profit educational organization that runs programs designed to use the power of amateur football in developing scholarship, citizenship and athletic achievement in young people. With 120 chapters and 12,000 members nationwide, NFF programs include Football Matters®, the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, The William V. Campbell Trophy® presented by Mazda, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments and a series of initiatives to honor the legends of the past and inspire the leaders of the future. NFF corporate partners include Delta Air Lines, ETT, Fidelity Investments, Goodyear, Herff Jones, Mazda, the New York Athletic Club, the Pasadena Tournament of Roses, the Sports Business Journal, Under Armour and VICIS. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @NFFNetwork and learn more at footballfoundation.org.