Panthers play sweet tune by signing Miles Davis to free agent contract originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The newest Carolina Panthers signing is unlikely to ever become the most famous person with his name.
That’s just how it works when your name is Miles Davis, the same as the all-time great trumpet player.
But this Miles Davis is doing OK for himself, too. He just earned an NFL contract.
Davis tried out with the Panthers after going undrafted, and only after they got an up-close look at him did Carolina commit.
The deal was reported by NFL transaction insider Aaron Wilson:
#Panthers are signing Utah State @UtahStateFootba running back Miles Davis after a successful workout, per a league source #NFL@kprc2https://t.co/If0gbYE1UB
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) May 18, 2026
This Miles Davis is a sturdy running back out of Utah State.
He’s listed at 6-foot-2 and 202 pounds, and he started his college career at BYU before transferring elsewhere within the state.
He spent five seasons at BYU, maxing out at 225 rushing yards in 2022.
But with Utah State in 2025, Davis ran 131 times for 731 yards (5.6 ypc) and eight touchdowns. He added 28 grabs for 201 yards and three touchdowns.
That was enough for the Panthers to notice and give him a chance, and Davis returned the favor by impressing the coaches who got to get to know him a bit more closely.
Davis was a three-star high school recruit who actually played wide receiver in high school, which explains his delayed development as a RB.
That could be a skillset that appeals to the Panthers, too, as well as his eight-time junior Olympian past in the 200 and 400 meters.
Davis might not play the trumpet, but he can play.