Carolina Panthers All-Pro linebacker Thomas Davis was honored by the University of Georgia Saturday night and inducted into the school’s Circle of Honor class of 2017.

With his family joining him at Sanford Stadium, he posted on Instagram how much the honor meant to him and his family.

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“I just want to thank @GeorgiaFootball and @ugaathletics for an amazing weekend! Being inducted into the circle of honor has definitely been a blessing to me and my family! I’m so thankful I got to share this moment with so many great people!”

The Circle of Honor is designed to pay tribute to extraordinary student-athletes and coaches who by their performance and conduct have brought honor to the university and themselves, and who by their actions have contributed to the tradition of the Georgia Bulldogs. The criteria also stipulate that each recipient has earned his or her academic degree. Davis received his degree in Consumer Economics.

At Georgia, Davis was a three-year letterman at free safety from 2002-04. After his sophomore season in 2003, he earned second-team All-Southeastern Conference honors. He was recognized as a first-team All-SEC selection and a first-team All-American after his junior season in 2004. In 39 career games, Davis recorded 272 tackles, 17 for a loss, 10.5 sacks, three interceptions, six forced fumbles, and four fumble recoveries. After his junior season, he left the Bulldogs for the NFL Draft and was selected in the first round by the Carolina Panthers in 2005.

Davis’ biggest influence was from his college head coach Mark Richt.

I never had a father figure in my household so I looked upon him as a father figure,” Davis recalls. “And, the way he did things, the way that he communicated things with his wife, his kids. You know, I really learned a lot about being a man from Coach Richt.”

Davis also discovered Coach Richt was more than a guy about X’s and O’s. But, a man centered in faith in Jesus Christ.

He’s one of the best coaches in the country … yet he still gives all credit to God,” Davis says. “I’m like, who is this God and how can I find him? What do I have to do to get closer to Him? … I learned that from him. That’s where it all started for me.”

Davis and the Panthers will take on the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Oct. 22nd.

For more on Thomas Davis, watch his Increase story below.