NATE DAVIS looks for a receiver during his Ball State days. He is being inducted into the Ball State Athletics Hall of Fame in September.

Nate Davis is one of the most decorated quarterbacks in the history of Ball State University football. The strong-armed Bellaire native threw for nearly 10,000 yards from 2006-08 for the Cardinals.

For his contributions to the program, Davis is one of seven members of the 2021 Ball State Athletics Hall of Fame class. The honorees will be formally inducted on Friday, Sept. 24 at the Alumni Center and will also be honored during the Cardinals game against Toledo the next day at Scheumann Stadium in Muncie, Ind..

“The Sports Information Director, from when I was at Ball State reached, out to me on Facebook and told me that the school was trying to get ahold of me and needed my number,” Davis explained. “I asked her what it was about, but she said she couldn’t tell me. I gave her my number, but I was wondering if it was a scam?

“About a month later, I received a phone call from someone at the school informing me that I was selected to be inducted into the Ball State Athletics Hall of Fame. I was very surprised because I was only there for three years,” he recalled. “I was shocked. I didn’t have any words to say.”

Davis re-wrote the Ball State passing record book and led the Cardinals to their highest-ever national ranking during his career. The Mid-American Conference Offensive Player of the Year in 2008, Davis led the Cardinals to a 12-0 regular season that year and a ranking as high as 12th in the country. He finished eighth in the Heisman Trophy balloting while leading Ball State to a bowl game for the second straight year with an appearance in the GMAC Bowl. He guided the Cardinals to the International Bowl after the 2007 season.

He set Ball State career records for passing yards (9,233), touchdown passes (74), completions (678) and total offense (9,732). He piled up those numbers in just three seasons and still ranks second in each category. Davis was the first player in BSU history to throw for 3,000 yards or more in back-to-back seasons. The John Magnabosco Award winner as team MVP in both 2007 and 2008, he managed a career record of 22-12 overall and 17-5 in MAC play. Davis was selected in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers.

“I remember a lot about my days in Muncie, especially when I sit back and think about it,” he admitted. “We had a bond and it was a great feeling. I got close to some guys and found some new brothers … new teammates.”

Joining Davis are Brittany Kelly (women’s golf); John Lee (men’s basketball); Theron Smith (men’s basketball); Patricia Soman (women’s track and field); Joe Hernandez (contributor); and the 2008-09 women’s basketball team.

Davis said he will be in attendance for the weekend of activities.

“I’m coming home a week before that so I can watch my nephew, Javon, play at IUP,” he said. “I’ve never seen him play before, so I’ve got a chance and I’m going to take advantage of it.”

Davis was an all-Ohio quarterback at Bellaire and a he’s a member of the OVAC Hall of Fame.