Davis, Murphy sign with University of the Cumberlands
Anderson County’s Taylor Davis (front, red shirt) and Ty Murphy (front, blue shirt) are joined by Mavericks football coaching staff as they celebrate signing their national letters of intent to further their academic and athletic careers at the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Kentucky.
Anderson County High School football player Taylor Davis will continue his playing career at the college level, staying relatively close to home while crossing into Kentucky.
Davis, who played as an H-back and defensive end during his senior season with the Mavericks, signed his national letter of intent to play at the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Kentucky.
He is one of three Mavericks from the 2025 recruiting class to commit to the Patriots, joining quarterback Landen Hensley and lineman Ty Murphy. All three took part in a signing ceremony Wednesday, Feb. 5, at ACHS.
Former Anderson County players Eli Davis and Nick Moog are already on the roster at the University of the Cumberlands.
“I talked to Nick, and he said he really loved the school,” Davis said. “He didn’t try to sell me on it — he just told me everything about it.”
A defensive player for much of his high school career, Davis will transition to fullback at the college level. He first played offense during his senior season in 2024.
“I played H-back last year,” he said. “I love playing defense and hitting people, but I’m small, and I don’t think I’ll get very far as an edge rusher or defensive end.
“They use a fullback at Cumberlands,” he said. “You get to carry the ball sometimes, but most of the time, you follow the running back into the hole, and if anyone tries to come in, you hit them. So, I’ll still get to hit people.”
Davis said the campus environment and the program’s family atmosphere played a major role in his decision.
“It’s a beautiful campus,” he said. “There’s no trash, and every blade of grass is cut perfectly.
“When you go on a visit, you usually interact with your recruiting coach and your position coach. There, you get to know all the coaches, and they make it personal.”
He plans to major in nursing and eventually enroll in a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist program.
Davis, whose family ties run deep in the area, wanted to stay close to home.
“I had about a two-and-a-half-hour radius,” he said. “My parents started early — my mom was 18 and my dad was 16 when they had my oldest brother, so neither of them went to college.
“We had a showcase, and my dad took a weekend off from work,” Davis said. “My brother has Down syndrome, and he was in the hospital. We have a great relationship, so I wanted to be close enough to home in case something happened to him.”
Ty Murphy
Anderson County High School football player Ty Murphy has signed a national letter of intent to continue his playing career at the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Kentucky.
Murphy, who was one of three ACHS players to take part in a signing ceremony on Wednesday, Feb. 5, will play both center and guard for the Patriots. His teammates Taylor Davis and Landen Hensley also committed to Cumberlands.
“It was a clean campus, and it appealed to me that it was a Christian school,” Murphy said. “My dad is actually a pastor, so the biggest thing that stood out to me was the culture.
“I know when you go off to college, you’re going to see some things you haven’t seen before, but if you go to a Christian school like Cumberlands, you won’t see as many of them.”
Murphy said staying close to home wasn’t a priority, but he’s glad it worked out that way.
“I just wanted to go somewhere where I could grow and become a man,” he said. “But this way, my family and friends can come and see me play.
“I teach linemen in the community, and some of the kids I work with have even said they want to come and watch me play.”
Murphy also sought advice from former ACHS teammate Nick Moog, who currently plays at Cumberlands.
“I talked to Nick and asked him about the pros and cons of the school, and there weren’t really any cons,” Murphy said.
Murphy plans to major in communications with an emphasis on broadcasting. He hopes to become a television sportscaster and eventually start a podcast.
