Troy Davis (running back)
Troy Davis (born September 14, 1975) is a former American college and professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football for Iowa State University where he was a Heisman finalist. Davis twice earned All-American honors and was the first and one of only two NCAA Division I-A running backs to rush for over 2,000 yards in back-to-back seasons. In 2016, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. He played professionally for the New Orleans Saints of the NFL, and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Edmonton Eskimos and Toronto Argonauts of the CFL, and was a member of the Eskimos' Grey Cup championship team in 2005. Early years Davis was born in Miami, Florida. He attended Miami Southridge High School, where he was a standout high school football player for the Southridge Spartans. He became the first Dade County football player to ever rush for 2,000 yards. He had offers to play at Florida and Florida State among others but eventually chose Iowa State. College career Davis attended Iowa State University, and played for the Iowa State Cyclones football team from 1994 to 1996. He played sparingly his freshman year under Jim Walden but flourished under new head coach Dan McCarney during Davis's final two seasons. Davis set numerous Cyclone team 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. 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 held the Iowa State Cyclones football record for most career rushing touchdowns (36) and was 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 three 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 his senior year. In 1996, Davis was selected as the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year. He was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American at running back in 1995 and 1996. Davis finished fifth in voting for the Heisman Trophy in 1995. In 1996, he narrowly finished second to winner Danny Wuerffel. He won three out of four Heisman regions, but lost badly in the South region. He was also nosed out for the Doak Walker Award by another Big 12 running back, Byron Hanspard of Texas Tech. Hanspard edged Davis for the award despite Hanspard earning a 0.00 grade point average