South Carolina running back Mike Davis has never started a college game. Luckily for him, someone very close to him has.
Davis' brother, James Davis, starred at Clemson from 2005-2008, leading the Tigers in rushing each of his four years.
With Mike now getting his chance to show what he can do as a starting running back, he has reached out to his older brother for advice.
“I talk to my brother every day,” Mike said.
James has advised Mike to do everything he can to perform well and keep his starting job.
“We talk about the little things as far as telling me to stay after practice and work on things to get mentally prepared,” Mike said.
The younger Davis entered fall practice battling Brandon Wilds for the starting running back position. He was announced as the starter last Tuesday by USC running backs coach Everette Sands.
Davis found out he was the starter two days before Sands made the announcement to the media, but he was unaware that Sands was going public with the news and received some flak from his family for failing to tell them.
“I didn't even have a chance to tell my mom yet and then she called me saying, 'Why didn't you even tell me you're the starting running back now?' Mom, she loves me and she wants to know everything first,” he said.
As a true freshman last year, Davis was fourth on the team with 275 yards. He led all running backs in yards per carry, averaging 5.3.
While Davis will start, Wilds will likely also see plenty of carries.
The sophomore redshirted with a high ankle sprain last year after rushing for 486 yards as a true freshman.
Wilds started five games his first season in Columbia and managed at least 100 yards in three of them.
USC head coach Steve Spurrier said he is unsure how many carries his two running backs will get.
“We certainly hope to give Mike a lot of runs and Brandon Wilds also,” Spurrier said. “I don't know exactly what's going to happen Thursday night.”
Davis' brother, James Davis, starred at Clemson from 2005-2008, leading the Tigers in rushing each of his four years.
With Mike now getting his chance to show what he can do as a starting running back, he has reached out to his older brother for advice.
“I talk to my brother every day,” Mike said.
James has advised Mike to do everything he can to perform well and keep his starting job.
“We talk about the little things as far as telling me to stay after practice and work on things to get mentally prepared,” Mike said.
The younger Davis entered fall practice battling Brandon Wilds for the starting running back position. He was announced as the starter last Tuesday by USC running backs coach Everette Sands.
Davis found out he was the starter two days before Sands made the announcement to the media, but he was unaware that Sands was going public with the news and received some flak from his family for failing to tell them.
“I didn't even have a chance to tell my mom yet and then she called me saying, 'Why didn't you even tell me you're the starting running back now?' Mom, she loves me and she wants to know everything first,” he said.
As a true freshman last year, Davis was fourth on the team with 275 yards. He led all running backs in yards per carry, averaging 5.3.
While Davis will start, Wilds will likely also see plenty of carries.
The sophomore redshirted with a high ankle sprain last year after rushing for 486 yards as a true freshman.
Wilds started five games his first season in Columbia and managed at least 100 yards in three of them.
USC head coach Steve Spurrier said he is unsure how many carries his two running backs will get.
“We certainly hope to give Mike a lot of runs and Brandon Wilds also,” Spurrier said. “I don't know exactly what's going to happen Thursday night.”