The Columbus Aviators signed wide receiver Rashard Davis and linebacker Fred Thompkins on Friday according to the UFL Transactions page.
Rashard Davis is five foot nine and weighs 175 pounds. The 30-year-old from Charlottesville, Virginia, signed with the B.C. Lions on December 27, 2024. In 2025, he made two catches for 16 yards and two punt returns for nine yards in two preseason games. The Lions released him on June 1, 2025.
The Philadelphia Eagles signed Davis as an undrafted free agent on August 14, 2017. In 2017, he made two catches for 12 yards, one kick return for 23 yards, and four punt returns for 12 yards in four preseason games. He spent most of the 2017 season on the practice squad when the Eagles won Super Bowl LII over the New England Patriots.
In 2018, Davis made four catches for 51 yards, one touchdown, five kick returns for 92 yards, and seven punt returns for 20 yards in four preseason games. The Eagles released him on September 7, 2018. Davis would later spend time with the Oakland Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs, and Tennessee Titans. In 2019, he played one regular-season game for the Titans with one catch for 16 yards and two punt returns for nine yards. He became a free agent after the 2020 season.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders signed Davis on September 16, 2021. In 2021, he made one catch for 12 yards, five kick returns for 108 yards, and 17 punt returns for 144 yards in four games. After Saskatchewan, Davis signed with the Tampa Bay Bandits (USFL) on April 1, 2022. In 2022, he made 22 catches for 369 yards, two touchdowns, 14 punt returns for 224 yards, one touchdown, and one tackle (1 solo) in 10 games.
The Bandits released him on July 25, 2022, and he signed with the New York Jets on July 26, 2022. Davis played one preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles with one catch for 14 yards, and four punt returns for 27 yards. The Jets released him on August 16, 2022.
The Memphis Showboats signed Davis on January 11, 2023. In 2023, Davis made eight catches for 115 yards, one touchdown, nine kick returns for 230 yards, and two punt returns for 19 yards in three games. The Showboats released Davis on March 22, 2024.
Collegiately, Davis played four seasons at James Madison University (2013-16) with 114 catches for 1,549 yards, 11 touchdowns, 25 carries for 203 yards, two touchdowns, completed one pass for 37 yards, one touchdown, 19 kick returns for 363 yards, 21 punt returns for 489 yards, four touchdowns, three tackles (3 solos), one pass breakup, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in 50 games for the Dukes.
Davis was named First Team All-American by STATS, Second Team FCS All-American, CAA Special Teams Player of the Year, First Team ECAC All-Star, and helped James Madison win the FCS Championship in 2016.
Fred Thompkins is six foot and weighs 225 pounds. A native of Paso Robles, California, Thompkins attended the Las Vegas Raiders rookie minicamp in 2024.
Collegiately, Thompkins spent three seasons at the College of San Francisco (2019-21) with 151 tackles (93 solos, 58 assists), 20.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, one interception, two pass breakups, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and one blocked kick in 20 games for the Rams.
In 2019, he was named the JC Freshman Player of the Year by Gridiron, First Team All-CCCAA, and First Team All-Bay 7 after finishing the season with 90 tackles (56 solos, 34 assists), 16 tackles for loss, six sacks, one interception, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, one pass breakup, and one blocked kick in 11 games. In 2021, he made 61 tackles (37 solos, 24 assists), 4.5 tackles for loss, and one pass breakup in nine games. The Rams finished undefeated 13-0 record and won the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) State Championship.
Then, he transferred to UNLV (2022-23) with 94 tackles (41 solos, 53 assists), five tackles for loss, one sack, one interception for 47 yards, one touchdown, one pass breakup, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in 21 games for the Rebels. In 2023, he made 60 tackles (25 solos, 35 assists), 3.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one interception for 47 yards, one touchdown, one pass breakup, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in 14 games.
