Former South Carolina running back Mike Davis signs with Baltimore Ravens
Former South Carolina Gamecocks running back Mike Davis has found a new home in the NFL. On Tuesday, the Baltimore Ravens announced via Twitter they have signed Davis to a one-year deal.
Davis played at South Carolina from 2012 to 2014, where he turned into a star. As a freshman in 2012, Davis had 52 rushing attempts for 275 yards and two touchdowns. In 2013, he had 203 carries for 1,183 yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging 5.8 yards per carry. Davis then ran for 982 yards and nine touchdowns as a junior, and added 70 receptions for 755 yards and two scores in his collegiate career.
He was then selected in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers. He has spent the majority of his career as a backup, also playing for the Seattle Seahawks, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, and most recently the Atlanta Falcons.
Even though Davis didn’t have many starts to begin his NFL career, he has gained experience as a lead back over the past couple of seasons. When Panthers starting running back Christian McCaffrey went down with an injury in 2020, Davis jumped into a larger role. He started 12 games, rushing for 642 yards and six touchdowns and adding 59 receptions for 373 yards and two scores.
Last season with the Falcons, Davis played in 17 games with eight starts. He rushed for 503 yards and three touchdowns on the year, adding 44 receptions for 259 yards and another touchdown.
With the Ravens, Davis will serve as valuable depth in a running back room that was run down by injuries last season. J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards figure to lead the backfield if healthy, but both are coming off of season-ending injuries last year. If Dobbins and Edwards aren’t ready to go to begin the year, or if either sustains another injury over the course of the season, Davis will be ready to step into a larger role.