USC newcomers set for early impact
Mike Davis thinks he’s ready to play in the SEC.
He still doesn’t know if he’ll do it this year or not, though.
Davis, South Carolina’s true freshman tailback, is on the No. 9 Gamecocks’ 70-man travel roster for Thursday night’s season opener against Vanderbilt. It doesn’t guarantee a place in the running back rotation, but Davis is much closer than he was a month ago.
The biggest reason for that is injuries to sophomore Brandon Wilds (sprained ankle) and redshirt freshman Shon Carson (wrist). Davis now sits third on the tailback depth chart behind Marcus Lattimore and Kenny Miles.
“I wish it never happened. You don’t wish those type of things on your teammates,” Davis said. However, “I realize I have to work even harder than I did before.”
Davis was one of USC’s most highly regarded prospects in the Class of 2012. He rushed for 1.923 yards as a senior at Stephenson High in Stone Mountain, Ga., and was considered a four-star prospect by the major recruiting services.
“I feel pretty good about myself,” he said. “I feel if I can break long runs in practice against our defense, then I think those are things I should be able to do against other teams because we have one of the best defenses in the SEC. I think I’ll be ready.”
Which of the 22 scholarship freshmen who joined the team this season will play this season won’t be known for several weeks. There are a few easy answers.
Wide receiver Shaq Roland and tight end Jerell Adams will play, coach Steve Spurrier says. Spur Jordan Diggs is expected to play because he’s the only backup behind starter DeVonte Holloman for the first three games.
Beyond that, there are few guarantees. Either Chaz Elder or T.J. Gurley probably will be pushed into action at cornerback thanks to Akeem Auguste’s injury, but the remainder of the class could redshirt, even Davis.
He appeared to be headed for a redshirt season before the run of injuries in the backfield. Wilds should be back in time for the season opener but has missed two weeks of practice, putting him behind his competition for playing time. Carson, who suffered a season-ending knee injury last season, won’t be ready until at least midseason, Spurrier said.
Davis did not carry the ball in the team’s first scrimmage. He rushed four times for 8 yards in the second scrimmage and three times for 17 yards in last week’s final scrimmage.
Upon learning he made the travel roster, Davis called his mother and then got a call from his older brother, former Clemson star James Davis, who informed him, he, too, entered his freshman season as the third-string tailback. Davis ended the season as the Tigers starter and compiled nearly 1,000 rushing yards that first year, but Mike Davis doesn’t hold out any hope of getting into the starting lineup this season.
In fact, that’s one reason he signed with the Gamecocks, he said, to play behind Lattimore.
“My mindset was to come in and work hard and learn from one of the best, Marcus Lattimore,” Davis said. “If there is anything I don’t know, I ask Marcus. That was my mindset coming here, learn from the best and not just be thrown in the fire.”
He told his mother earlier this week she might want to come to Nashville just in case he gets in the game, but he insists he doesn’t care if he plays or redshirts this season.
“I don’t have a preference,” he said. “If it’s to help the team, I am down for it. Anything for the team, I am constantly down for it.”
This story was originally published August 24, 2012 at 12:00 AM.