Ellsworth High School graduate Kaden Davis spent this past week’s three days of the National Football League draft hoping for a chance to fulfill his childhood dream.

Nothing.

Then came Saturday night and the free agent phase of football’s annual ritual. Davis’ phone exploded with calls from coaches, scouts and other team representatives, and within five minutes he had accepted an opportunity to play for the Denver Broncos.

“I feel blessed. I’m grateful for the opportunity and I can’t wait to get to work,” Davis tweeted following his selection. “This has been a lifelong dream of mine to play in the NFL and to be able to do it in Denver just makes it that much sweeter.”

Davis, who is thought to be the first Ellsworth graduate to advance this far in professional football, signed with the Broncos after receiving a call from the head coach.

“That really impressed him,” said Kaden’s father, Ron Davis Jr., athletic director at Ellsworth Junior-Senior High School. Davis also had considered the

Davis also had considered the Chicago Bears and the Dallas Cowboys.

Instead, he starts rookie training camp next week in Denver. The elder Davis said about 80 players are expected. That number will be whittled to 52 by the time the Broncos play their first game of the 2022 season in September.

“The work is not over,” Ron Davis added.

He said Kaden announced in grade school he planned to be a professional football player. Later, he was asked where he expected to be in 10 years. The answer was the same — “I’ll be in the NFL.”

“He’s five years ahead of schedule,” Ron said. “It’s a dream come true.”

Davis spent the past three seasons at NCAA Division II powerhouse Northwest Missouri State in Marysville, Mo. He helped the Bearcats to two postseason appearances.

According to the university’s sports department:

David earned honorable mention all-MIAA honors as a senior wide receiver for Northwest Missouri. Davis led the Bearcats with 10 touchdown receptions and 714 receiving yards. He caught 44 passes to rank second on the squad. He averaged 16.2 yards per catch and 54.9 yards per game. Davis recorded two 100-plus receiving games in 2021 with a 103-yard effort against Central Missouri and 102 yards at Missouri Southern. Davis nabbed a pair of touchdown receptions in a second-round NCAA playoff victory at Harding as he posted four catches for 82 yards. He also caught a touchdown pass in the NCAA quarterfinal contest at Ferris State.

Following the season, Davis was honored as a member of the MIAA Academic Honor Roll and earned a spot on the National Football Foundation’s Hampshire Honor Society. Davis had a 3.48 GPA in recreation and corporate recreation/ wellness.

2021

Honorable Mention All-MIAA selection at wide receiver ... MIAA Academic Honor Roll ... named to the National Football Foundation’s Hampshire Honor Society ... led the Bearcats with 10 touchdown receptions and 714 receiving yards ... caught 44 passes to rank second on the squad ... averaged 16.2 yards per catch and 54.9 yards per game ... recorded two 100-plus receiving games in 2021 with a

103-yard effort against Central Missouri and 102 yards at Missouri Southern ... nabbed a pair of touchdown receptions in a second-round NCAA playoff victory at Harding as he posted four catches for 82 yards ... also caught a touchdown pass in the NCAA quarterfinal contest at Ferris State.

2019

MIAA Academic Honor Roll ... saw action in 14 games and drew three starts at wide receiver ... caught 11 passes for 257 yards ... averaged 23.4 yards per reception ... tallied a 39-yard touchdown reception in Northwest’s 38-17 win over Washburn (9/14) ... secured four catches for 105 yards as Northwest won the MIAA title with a 45-23 win over Central Missouri (11/16).

Prior to Northwest

Earned junior college academic honors at Butler CC … all-state wide receiver and punter in high school … 2016 Catch It Kansas track athlete of the year … son of Ron and Dina Davis of Ellsworth.