Clemson great James Davis back with Tigers. Here’s his role with coaching staff
James Davis is returning to Clemson.
The former Tigers running back —who supplied the power to C.J. Spiller’s speed to form the running back duo “Thunder and Lightning” from 2006-08 — is rejoining the program, according to TigerNet.
The website reported Wednesday that Davis, 37, is joining coach Dabo Swinney’s staff as a student assistant coach through the Tiger Trust program, which allows former student-athletes to return to school and finish their degrees.
Naturally, that’ll reunite Davis with Spiller, his former backfield partner who’s now entering his third season as Clemson’s running backs coach.
Davis was the 2005 ACC Rookie of the Year and a two-time All-ACC selection at Clemson, where he ran for 3,881 yards and 47 touchdowns. He became the first Tigers since Raymond Priester in 1995-97 to lead the team in rushing three years in a row and left the program ranking fourth in career all-purpose yardage.
ABC commentator Todd Blackledge gave Davis and Spiller the nickname “Thunder and Lightning” during a 2006 home win against Georgia Tech in which the running backs combined for 332 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns.
Davis was drafted in the sixth round (No. 195) of the 2009 NFL Draft and played for Cleveland, Washington, Houston and Detroit from 2009-11.
His younger brother, Mike Davis, played running back at South Carolina and has played in the NFL since 2015 including for the Carolina Panthers.
Davis will become one of many former Clemson football lettermen on Swinney’s staff. Spiller, defensive tackles coach Nick Eason, wide receivers coach Tyler Grisham and Thomas Austin all played for the Tigers.
Former Tigers DeAndre McDaniel, Da’Quan Bowers, Tajh Boyd, Tyrone Crowder and Cole Stoudt are also support staffers.
This story was originally published July 12, 2023 at 3:44 PM.
