Troy Davis (running back)
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Position: | Running back | ||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||
Date of birth: | September 14, 1975 | ||||||||||
Place of birth: | Miami, Florida | ||||||||||
Height: | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | ||||||||||
Weight: | 183 lb (83 kg) | ||||||||||
Career information | |||||||||||
High school: | Miami (FL) Southridge | ||||||||||
College: | Iowa State | ||||||||||
NFL Draft: | 1997 / Round: 3 / Pick: 62 | ||||||||||
Career history | |||||||||||
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Troy Davis (born September 14, 1975) is a former American college and professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football for Iowa State University where he was a Heisman finalist. Troy Davis twice earned All-American honors and was the first and only NCAA Division I-A running back to rush for over 2,000 yards in back-to-back seasons. In 2016, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.[1][2] He played professionally for the New Orleans Saints of the NFL, and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Edmonton Eskimos and Toronto Argonauts of the CFL, and was a member of the Eskimos' Grey Cup championship team in 2005.
Early years
Davis was born in Miami, Florida. He attended Miami Southridge High School, where he was a standout high school football player for the Southridge Spartans.
College career
Davis attended Iowa State University, and played for the Iowa State Cyclones football team from 1993 to 1996. He set numerous Cyclone team records, including most career rushing yards (4,382), total rushing yards in a single season (2,185), rushing yards in a game (378, vs. Missouri, rushing attempts in a game (53, vs. then-Division I-AA Northern Iowa, most rushing touchdowns in a game (5, vs. UNLV and vs. Northern Iowa), most 100-yard rushing games in a season (11) and career (21), most 200-yard rushing games in a season (5) and career (9), and most consecutive 100-yard rushing games (17, during 1995 and 1996 seasons), and most consecutive games scoring a touchdown (10, during 1995 and 1996 seasons).[3] He also holds the Iowa State Cyclones football record for most career rushing touchdowns (36) and is tied for first for most career total touchdowns (38). He became the first running back in NCAA Division I-A (now Football Bowl Subdivision) history to gain 2,000 yards in two different seasons. During his 3 seasons at ISU, the Cyclones finished last in the Big Eight standings in his sophomore and junior seasons and last in the Big 12 North division standings. Davis played for head coaches Jim Walden and for the final two years of his ISU career, Dan McCarney.
In 1996, Davis was selected as the Big 12 Conference Player of the Year. He was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American at running back in 1995 and 1996.[4] He was inducted into the Iowa State Sports Hall of Fame in 2007.
Davis finished fifth out of six finalists for the Heisman Trophy in 1995. In 1996, he narrowly finished second to winner Danny Wuerffel. He won three out of four Heisman regions, but lost badly in the South region. He was nosed out for the 1996 Doak Walker Award by another Big 12 running back, Byron Hanspard of Texas Tech. In both cases, he was largely hampered by the fact that he played on a losing team.
Professional career
Davis elected to forgo his senior season of eligibility and declared for the 1997 NFL Draft. He was drafted in the 3rd round (62nd overall) by the New Orleans Saints.[5] He played in the NFL for three years before joining the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League. In 2004, he led the CFL with 1628 rushing yards. He also set the Tiger Cats record for both rushing yards with 1628 and yards from scrimmage with 1878. During the 2005 CFL season, Davis was traded to the Edmonton Eskimos in exchange for a package headlined by wide receiver Brock Ralph, defensive back Tay Cody, and a first-round pick in that year's draft. Davis played a key role in helping the Eskimos win the 93rd Grey Cup that year. On February 23, 2007, the Eskimos released Davis. He was later signed to the Toronto Argonauts' practice roster on September 25, 2007. Davis was initially released by the Argonauts on October 17, 2007, but rejoined their practice roster on October 23, 2007.
Personal life
Davis is the brother of Darren Davis, who played running back at Iowa State beginning in Troy's final season until 1999. Darren ran for over 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons before ending his career second in career rushing yards behind his older brother. In October 2016, hours after an on-field celebration for his induction into Iowa State's Hall of Fame, Davis was arrested outside of an Ames bar around 2:30 a.m. for trying to start his car while heavily intoxicated. After his release the next day, Davis commented “I don’t have no regrets at all. Who’s not going to drink and not going to celebrate an accomplishment that too many athletes do not get? [6]
See also
References
- ↑ "2016 College Football Hall of Fame Class". National Football Foundation. January 8, 2016. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
- ↑ "Transcript, Audio and Photos from 2016 College Football Hall of Fame Class Announcement". National Football Foundation. January 8, 2016. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
- ↑ http://www.cyclones.com//pdf8/705991.pdf
- ↑ http://www.cyclones.com//pdf8/705904.pdf
- ↑ Pro Football Hall of Fame, Draft History, 1997 National Football League Draft. Retrieved February 2, 2012.
- ↑ http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/college/iowa-state/cyclone-insider/2016/10/02/troy-davis-iowa-state-cyclones-public-intoxication/91432122/