South Carolina Football: Looking back at the Gamecocks career of Mike Davis

SHREVEPORT, LA - DECEMBER 27: Mike Davis #28 of the South Carolina Gamecocks runs for yards against the Miami Hurricanes during the second quarter of the Duck Commander Independence Bowl at Independence Stadium on December 27, 2014 in Shreveport, Louisiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
SHREVEPORT, LA - DECEMBER 27: Mike Davis #28 of the South Carolina Gamecocks runs for yards against the Miami Hurricanes during the second quarter of the Duck Commander Independence Bowl at Independence Stadium on December 27, 2014 in Shreveport, Louisiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

One of the top running backs in the SEC East during his time in Columbia, here is a look back at the South Carolina Football career of Mike Davis.

Looking back at the South Carolina Football career of Mike Davis

A former highly-touted prep prospect, Davis originally committed to South Carolina out of Stephenson High School in Georgia. One of the headline names in the Gamecocks 2012 class, Davis was rated as a four-star prospect and top 50 national player, as well as one of the top players in the state of Georgia.

Davis would go on to make an immediate impact as a freshman in 2012, carrying the ball a total of 52 times for 275 yards and two touchdowns, while also catching four passes for 35 yards. Primarily a backup in the Gamecocks backfield, Davis would however emerge into a significantly larger role in 2013 as a sophomore, a year in which he was one of the SEC’s top running backs.

Receiving 203 carries (No. 4 in SEC), Davis would rush for a total of 1,183 yards to rank No. 4 in the SEC, along with 11 touchdowns which also ranked top 10 in the conference. Catching 34 passes for 352 yards as well, Davis would also rank No. 3 in the SEC as a sophomore in total yards from scrimmage from a non-quarterback with 1,535.

Coming off that strong season, Davis would post a similar stat line in 2014 as a junior, rushing for 982 yards and nine touchdowns on 199 carries. Davis would also catch a total of 32 passes for 368 yards and two touchdowns, while also ranking fifth in the conference with 1,350 total yards from scrimmage.

At the conclusion of the 2014 season, Davis would declare for the 2015 NFL Draft where he was selected with the No. 126 overall pick by the San Francisco 49ers. Ending his South Carolina Football career, Davis would rush for a combined 2,440 yards and 22 touchdowns on 454 carries during his time with the Gamecocks, along with 70 receptions for 755 yards and two more scores.

Since entering the NFL, Davis has spent time with five different teams from 2015-21 (49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Atlanta Falcons), rushing for a combined 2,034 yards and 14 touchdowns across 79 career games. Davis enters the 2022 season with the Baltimore Ravens, his first year with the organization.