Former Alabama football star impersonated NFL stars in a multi-million dollar loan fraud scheme

A former college football player is facing serious federal charges after allegedly orchestrating a scheme that netted nearly $20 million by impersonating NFL athletes.

Luther Davis, a member of the University of Alabama’s 2009 national championship team, has been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. According to court documents, Davis used disguises including wigs and makeup to pose as prominent NFL players such as Michael Penix Jr., David Njoku, and even former Bama Alum Xavier McKinney.

Prosecutors allege that between May 2023 and October 2024, Davis and an associate, CJ Evins, carried out a coordinated scheme to secure millions of dollars in loans from multiple lenders. The pair reportedly impersonated professional football players, falsely claiming the athletes were seeking large personal loans.

To support the deception, the two allegedly created fraudulent bank accounts and email addresses, and even obtained fake identification documents matching the identities of the players they impersonated.

Authorities say the scheme was extensive, with more than $4 million in loans tied specifically to impersonations of Njoku and McKinney.

Davis and Evins are scheduled to appear in court on April 27, where they are expected to enter guilty pleas. Each faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Before his legal troubles, Davis appeared in 45 games for Alabama, recording 47 tackles during his collegiate career. He had initially committed to LSU before ultimately joining the Crimson Tide.