| Clemson RB James Davis Will Now Return To School | | |
Davis returns to Clemson after declaring for draft
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Clemson running back James Davis has returned to college more than a week after announcing his intentions to turn pro.
The school announced Friday that Davis faxed letters to the NFL and Clemson University just hours before the deadline to reconsider. Davis is expected to return to class Tuesday.
Davis said he spoke with his mother well into the night Thursday about whether he made the right call about the NFL draft.
"I knew today was the final deadline," Davis said. "I woke up last night at 3 a.m. and just thought about everything and thought about my future. Coming back to Clemson is just the right thing to do."
Clemson coach Tommy Bowden said last week he thought Davis was better off with another year of college. He was glad Davis reached the same conclusion.
"I know it was a difficult decision for him and we continued to communicate. In the final analysis he realizes this is the best decision for him and his family," Bowden said.
Davis is the Clemson's first player to submit paperwork for the NFL draft and then decide to return, athletic spokesman Tim Bourret said Friday. He had announced he was leaving school on Jan. 9.
Davis struggled with his choice since Clemson's 23-20 overtime loss to Auburn at the Chick-fil-A Bowl on New Year's Eve. He met twice with his family and made a trip to Florida to clear his head.
Part of the reason to go pro was financial, said Davis, who has a 1-year-old daughter.
Davis was projected as a third-round selection. However, Bowden had asked Davis to call around to NFL general managers about his prospects. Apparently, Davis didn't like what he heard.
This year's draft has an impressive group of running backs, including Darren McFadden and Felix Jones from Arkansas as well as Oregon's Jonathan Stewart, Central Florida's Kevin Smith, Michigan's Mike Hart, Rutgers' Ray Rice and West Virginia's Steve Slaton.
Davis' reversal brings Clemson's backfield duo of "Thunder and Lightning" back together. While the 5-foot-11, 210-pound Davis is the power partner, C.J. Spillers adds the speed.
"I am thrilled. We will have one more year of 'Thunder and Lightning,"' Spiller said.
Davis' return also means Clemson's offense will have nine of 11 players back who started the bowl game, including all its skill position players.
Davis has led Clemson in rushing the past three years, going for over 1,000 the last two seasons. He's second on Clemson's career rushing list with 3,130 yards and needs 837 yards to surpass Raymond Priester's record of 3,966 yards.
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