Riverside Academy senior running back Elijah “Bill” Davis signed a National Letter of Intent to play football for the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns Wednesday afternoon in the RA gym, with his family, friends, coaches and several teammates looking on.

Davis, who was the District 9-1A MVP on offense, rushed for more than 2,000 yards with 36 touchdowns in his senior season. He finished with more than 4,500 yards in his career as a Rebel.

The 5-foot-10, 208 pound back received his offer from the Cajuns in February and he committed in June.

“The recruiting process was definitely a tough one,” Davis said. “There were a lot of choices to choose from, but at the end of the day UL was the best fit for me.”

Davis said he appreciated the support shown to him on Wednesday.

“It means a lot for everybody coming out here and support me and my decision,” he said. “I appreciate everyone from my fans, my teammates, and all of my coaches. I’m excited to show everyone what I’ve got at the next level and put on a show.”

Gallery • 5 Photos

Lori Lyons

From left, Athletic director Marty Luquet, Principal Holly Haase, and Head Coach Lee Roussel listen to Davis address the crowd on Wednesday. His dad, Michael, partly hidden from view, mother, Kameshia and his sister Michaela look on from the right.