Not surprisingly, one of the best running backs in the SEC is on the verge of playing his final football game at the collegiate level.
Thursday afternoon, South Carolina’s Mike Davis confirmed that he has decided to forego his remaining eligibility and make himself available for the 2015 NFL draft. As a result, his final college game will be Saturday afternoon’s Duck Commander Independence Bowl against Miami.
Since the end of last season, it’s been widely thought that 2014 would be Davis’ final season in Columbia so the pronouncement should come as no surprise.
“Yes, this will be my last game,” Davis said in quotes distributed by the school. “You always want to go out with a bang. I just tell my teammates that I love them. I’ve enjoyed this long ride.
“I knew when it was coming down to it and I had made my decision, I started bringing a camera in to start recording my last moments with my teammates – a lot of good moments. I’ve just enjoyed being around them”
Davis, who said he made his final decision “not too long ago,” has led the Gamecocks in rushing each of the past two seasons. The junior has 927 yards thus far this season after rushing for 1,183 yards in 2013.
One aspect of his game that will be intriguing to NFL teams as a potential second- or third-round pick are his hands coming out of the backfield. The last two years, Davis has caught 64 passes for 701 yards.
Davis likely won’t be the only running back playing in his last college game Saturday, though. It’s long been expected that Miami’s Duke Johnson will leave early for the NFL, although he won’t officially announce his decision until a Sunday press conference.