IRVING, Texas (Nov. 7, 2024) – The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame announced today that Charles Davis, the highly regarded CBS Sports announcer, will emcee the 66th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas Dec. 10 at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
 
"Charles Davis has distinguished himself as one of the most talented sports announcers in the business, and we're lucky to have him return to our stage," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. "His deep passion and knowledge of college football, paired with quick wit and ability to engage an audience makes him the perfect fit to emcee the event where we honor our sport's greatest legends."
 
His 2024 appearance will mark Davis's third time emceeing the NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas, having previously hosted the event in 2023 and 2019. Davis has also lent his talents at other NFF events, serving 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).
 
Davis is among a prestigious list of individuals who have donated their skills to host the fabled event, including TV Host Ed Sullivan, 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 Tim Brando, Rece Davis, Chris Fowler, Verne Lundquist, Joe Tessitore and Mike Tirico.
 
"Charles' presence will undoubtedly make the evening even more memorable for all of our honorees," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. "He's not only a gifted announcer but also a role model to many. From the Hall of Famers to the scholar-athletes, everyone on that stage will feel the excitement of sharing the spotlight with him. We couldn't be more thrilled to have him back as the emcee for our Annual Awards Dinner."
 
The 66th NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas will serve as the culmination of the college football regular season. It will feature the induction of the 2024 College Football Hall of Fame Class; the presentation of the 2024 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards Presented by Fidelity Investments; and the bestowing of the 35th William V. Campbell Trophy® to college football's top scholar-athlete.
 
The 2024 class includes Justin Blackmon (Oklahoma State), the late Paul Cameron (UCLA), Tim Couch (Kentucky), Warrick Dunn (Florida State), Armanti Edwards (Appalachian State), Deon Figures (Colorado), Larry Fitzgerald (Pittsburgh), Toby Gerhart (Stanford), Dan Hampton (Arkansas), Steve Hutchinson (Michigan), Antonio Langham (Alabama), Randy Moss (Marshall), Julius Peppers (North Carolina), Paul Posluszny (Penn State), Dewey Selmon (Oklahoma), Alex Smith (Utah), Kevin Smith (Texas A&M), Chris Ward (Ohio State), Danny Woodhead (Chadron State [NE]), and coaches Mark Dantonio (Cincinnati, Michigan State); Danny Hale (West Chester [PA], Bloomsburg [PA]); and Frank Solich (Nebraska, Ohio). 
 
On Oct. 23, the NFF announced the members of the 2024 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments, who each receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship and are vying as finalists for The William V. Campbell Trophy®. One will be named the recipient of the Campbell Trophy® at the event as college football's top scholar-athlete and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.
 
Click here for more information on the Awards Dinner, including options to purchase tickets online, special travel rates to the event from Delta Air Lines and hotel rates at Bellagio.
   
Veteran broadcaster Charles Davis joined CBS Sports as a game analyst for the CBS Television Network's coverage of THE NFL ON CBS in April 2020. Providing color commentary, Davis shares the booth with play-by-play announcer Ian Eagle with Evan Washburn as the sideline reporter, rounding out the network's No. 2 NFL ON CBS broadcast team. He also hosts the nationally syndicated show: Sports Stars of Tomorrow.
 
Prior to joining CBS Sports, Davis was a member of FOX Sports from 2006 to 2020. He moved into the FOX NFL booth full time in 2015 after previously serving as the lead analyst on FOX's college football coverage. He was on the call for three consecutive BCS National Championship games between 2007-09, also covering the 2008 Sugar Bowl and 2009 Orange Bowl. Davis' most memorable college football broadcast experience came when he called the 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.
 
Prior to joining FOX Sports, Davis worked five seasons as the lead analyst for TBS' college football game 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 Division I Men's Basketball Championship 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 a stellar reputation for his depth of familiarity with prospects across all ranges of the draft. Each year he staffs the Senior Bowls and NFL Combines, and he has also been a part of NFLN's live draft weekend coverage since 2007. Davis also has served as the analyst voice in Madden NFL video games since 2017.
         
Davis earned a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Tennessee and completed his master's in history while at the school. A four-year starter as a defensive back from 1983-86, he was also a member of the Academic All-SEC Team. Following his career at Tennessee, he signed as a rookie free agent with the Dallas Cowboys and participated in the club's 1987 training camp. In 2019, Davis was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in a class that included former NFL stars and College Football Hall of Fame inductees Peyton Manning (the 1997 Campbell Trophy Winner) and Patrick Willis.
 
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 – 1995 (28 consecutive years):  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 (now with CBS Sports)
2020 - No NFF Annual Awards Dinner due to the pandemic
2021 - Rece Davis, ESPN/ABC Sports Broadcaster
2022 - Rece Davis, ESPN/ABC Sports Broadcaster
2023 - Charles Davis, CBS Sports Broadcaster
2024 - Charles Davis, CBS Sports Broadcaster