Davis, who TIME called “a jet-propelled gent” in a 1945 cover story, teamed with Felix “Doc” Blanchard — “Mr. Inside” to Davis’ “Mr. Outside” — to form a legendary backfield on Army’s undefeated teams. The all-purpose back averaged 11.7 yards per play in 1945, still a major-college record. He had finished second in the Heisman voting the previous two years (in ’45, Blanchard won it); he went on to win two championships with the Los Angeles Rams. Davis died in March 2005 at age 80. — Sean Gregory