Troy Davis
Encyclopedia
Troy Davis is a Canadian Football League
running back
who is currently a free agent. He is best known for being the first NCAA Division I-A running back to rush for over 2,000 yards in back to back seasons while at Iowa State
. Davis was twice a Heisman Trophy
finalist, finishing second in 1996.
, members of the Big Eight Conference
(which later expanded to the Big 12 Conference
in 1996 before his senior season) where he set numerous Cyclone records, including most career rushing yards (4,382), total rushing yards in a single season (2,185), rushing yards in a game (378, vs. Missouri, rushing attempts in a game (53, vs. then-Division I-AA Northern Iowa
, most rushing touchdowns in a game (5, vs. UNLV and vs. Northern Iowa), most 100-yard rushing games in a season (11) and career (21), most 200-yard rushing games in a season (5) and career (9), and most consecutive 100-yard rushing games (17, during 1995 and 1996 seasons), and most consecutive games scoring a touchdown (10, during 1995 and 1996 seasons). He also holds the Iowa State Cyclones football
record for most career rushing touchdowns (36) and is tied for first for most career total touchdowns (38). He became the first running back in NCAA Division I-A (now Football Bowl Subdivision history to gain 2,000 yards in two different seasons. During his 3 seasons at ISU, the Cyclones finished last in the Big Eight standings in his sophomore and junior seasons and last in the Big 12 North division standings. Davis played for head coaches Jim Walden
and for the final two years of his ISU career, Dan McCarney
.
In 1996, Davis was selected as the inaugural Big 12 Conference Player of the Year.
Davis was a two-time consensus All-American at running back in 1995 and 1996. He was later admitted to the Iowa State Hall of Fame as member of the class of 2007.
in 1996. In 1996, Davis won three Heisman regions, but lost badly in the South region. He was largely hampered by the fact that he played on a losing team.
. He was drafted in the 3rd round (62nd overall) by the New Orleans Saints
. He played in the NFL for three years before joining the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
of the Canadian Football League
. During the 2005 CFL season
, Davis was traded to the Edmonton Eskimos
in exchange for a package headlined by wide receiver
Brock Ralph
, defensive back
Tay Cody
, and a first-round pick in that year's draft. Davis played a key role in helping the Eskimos win the 93rd Grey Cup
that year. On February 23, 2007, the Eskimos released Davis. He was later signed to the Toronto Argonauts
' practice roster on September 25, 2007. Davis was initially released by the Argonauts on October 17, 2007, but rejoined their practice roster on October 23, 2007.
, who played running back at Iowa State beginning in Troy's final season until 1999. Darren ran for over 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons before ending his career second in career rushing yards behind his older brother.
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
who is currently a free agent. He is best known for being the first NCAA Division I-A running back to rush for over 2,000 yards in back to back seasons while at Iowa State
Iowa State University
Iowa State University of Science and Technology, more commonly known as Iowa State University , is a public land-grant and space-grant research university located in Ames, Iowa, United States. Iowa State has produced astronauts, scientists, and Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, along with a host of...
. Davis was twice a Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
finalist, finishing second in 1996.
College career
Davis attended Iowa State UniversityIowa State University
Iowa State University of Science and Technology, more commonly known as Iowa State University , is a public land-grant and space-grant research university located in Ames, Iowa, United States. Iowa State has produced astronauts, scientists, and Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, along with a host of...
, members of the Big Eight Conference
Big Eight Conference
The Big Eight Conference, a former NCAA-affiliated Division I-A college athletic association that sponsored football, was formed in January 1907 as the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association by its charter member schools: the University of Kansas, University of Missouri, University...
(which later expanded to the Big 12 Conference
Big 12 Conference
The Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference of ten schools located in the Central United States, with its headquarters located in Las Colinas, a community in the Dallas, Texas suburb of Irving...
in 1996 before his senior season) where he set numerous Cyclone records, including most career rushing yards (4,382), total rushing yards in a single season (2,185), rushing yards in a game (378, vs. Missouri, rushing attempts in a game (53, vs. then-Division I-AA Northern Iowa
Northern Iowa Panthers football
The first year of Northern Iowa Panthers football was in 1895. They have fielded a football team every year since then with the exceptions of 1906-1907 and 1943-1944...
, most rushing touchdowns in a game (5, vs. UNLV and vs. Northern Iowa), most 100-yard rushing games in a season (11) and career (21), most 200-yard rushing games in a season (5) and career (9), and most consecutive 100-yard rushing games (17, during 1995 and 1996 seasons), and most consecutive games scoring a touchdown (10, during 1995 and 1996 seasons). He also holds the Iowa State Cyclones football
Iowa State Cyclones football
The Iowa State Cyclones football team represents Iowa State University in college football. The Cyclones compete in the Big 12 Conference in the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. ISU started playing football in 1892, however, it did not become an official sport until 1894...
record for most career rushing touchdowns (36) and is tied for first for most career total touchdowns (38). He became the first running back in NCAA Division I-A (now Football Bowl Subdivision history to gain 2,000 yards in two different seasons. During his 3 seasons at ISU, the Cyclones finished last in the Big Eight standings in his sophomore and junior seasons and last in the Big 12 North division standings. Davis played for head coaches Jim Walden
Jim Walden
Jim "Jimmy" Walden is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Washington State University from 1978 to 1986 and at Iowa State University from 1987 to 1994, compiling a career college football record of 72–109–7.-Playing career:Walden played...
and for the final two years of his ISU career, Dan McCarney
Dan McCarney
-External links:* * * * *...
.
In 1996, Davis was selected as the inaugural Big 12 Conference Player of the Year.
Davis was a two-time consensus All-American at running back in 1995 and 1996. He was later admitted to the Iowa State Hall of Fame as member of the class of 2007.
Heisman Trophy
Davis finished fifth out of six finalists for the Heisman Trophy in 1995 and narrowly finished second to winner Danny WuerffelDanny Wuerffel
Daniel Carl "Danny" Wuerffel is a former American college and professional football player who won the 1996 Heisman Trophy and the 1996 national football championship while playing college football for the University of Florida. After graduating from Florida, he played for four National Football...
in 1996. In 1996, Davis won three Heisman regions, but lost badly in the South region. He was largely hampered by the fact that he played on a losing team.
Professional career
Davis elected to forgo his senior season of eligibility and declared for the 1997 NFL Draft1997 NFL Draft
The 1997 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 19–20, 1997. No teams elected to claim any players in the supplemental draft that...
. He was drafted in the 3rd round (62nd overall) by the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
. He played in the NFL for three years before joining the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
of the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
. During the 2005 CFL season
2005 CFL season
The 2005 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 52nd season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 48th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 2005:...
, Davis was traded to the Edmonton Eskimos
Edmonton Eskimos
The Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895...
in exchange for a package headlined by wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
Brock Ralph
Brock Ralph
Brock Ralph is a professional Canadian football slotback and wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He has previously played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League.- Early years :...
, defensive back
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
Tay Cody
Tay Cody
Coronta "Tay" Cody is a former professional gridiron football defensive back who played in the National Football League and the Canadian Football League...
, and a first-round pick in that year's draft. Davis played a key role in helping the Eskimos win the 93rd Grey Cup
93rd Grey Cup
The 93rd Grey Cup game was held on November 27, 2005, at B.C. Place Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia between the Edmonton Eskimos and the Montreal Alouettes, to decide the winner of the 2005 season of the Canadian Football League. The Eskimos prevailed over the Alouettes in a 38-35 overtime...
that year. On February 23, 2007, the Eskimos released Davis. He was later signed to the Toronto Argonauts
Toronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
' practice roster on September 25, 2007. Davis was initially released by the Argonauts on October 17, 2007, but rejoined their practice roster on October 23, 2007.
Personal life
Davis is the brother of Darren DavisDarren Davis
Darren Davis was a running back in the Canadian Football League. Davis played college football at Iowa State University and was the first player in school history to rush for over 1,000 yards three times in a career.- College career :...
, who played running back at Iowa State beginning in Troy's final season until 1999. Darren ran for over 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons before ending his career second in career rushing yards behind his older brother.