May 12, 2015

Highlighted Year: Anthony Davis, 1975

Halfback, Southern California Sun


Age: 23 (Sept. 8)
1st season in pro football
College: Southern California
Height: 5’9”   Weight: 187

Prelude:
Davis, who also excelled at baseball, starred at tailback in college, rushing for 3724 yards and 44 touchdowns for USC. He averaged 42.5 yards on kickoff returns as a senior in 1974, to go along with 1517 yards from scrimmage and finished second in voting for the Heisman Trophy. Davis was chosen by the New York Jets in the second round of the 1975 NFL draft but signed with the Sun of the WFL instead and was the highest-profile rookie of the league’s second season.

1975 Season Summary
Appeared in all 12 games
[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing
Attempts – 239 [1]
Most attempts, game – 25 (for 139 yds.) vs. Shreveport 10/12
Yards – 1200 [1]
Most yards, game – 141 yards (on 17 carries) vs. Charlotte 9/14
Average gain – 5.0 [4]
TDs – 16 [1]
100-yard rushing games – 8

Pass Receiving
Receptions – 40 [4] 
Most receptions, game – 9 (for 75 yds.) at Memphis 10/5
Yards – 381 [19]
Most yards, game – 109 (on 7 catches) at Charlotte 9/27
Average gain – 9.5
TDs – 1
100-yard receiving games – 1

Passing
Attempts – 11
Completions – 4
Completion percentage – 36.4
Yards – 120
TDs – 1
Interceptions – 0

Kickoff Returns
Returns – 9 [17]
Yards – 235 [15]
Average per return – 26.1
TDs – 1
Longest return – 84 yards

Scoring
TDs – 18 [1]
Action Points – 7 [1]
Points – 133 [1]

Sun went 7-5 and were first in the WFL Western Division when the league folded. They led the league in touchdowns (45, tied with San Antonio) and were second in rushing yards (2047), passing yards (2431), and scoring (354 points).

Aftermath:
Davis’ abbreviated rookie season turned out to easily be his best as a pro. With the demise of the WFL, he signed a large contract with the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL in 1976 and had a disappointing season, clashing with his coaches and rushing for just 417 yards, catching 37 passes for 408 yards, and averaging 26.0 yards on 27 kickoff returns. Davis was released and joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFL in ’77, reuniting with his college coach, John McKay, but he had even less success, gaining 297 yards on the ground and catching eight passes. He was traded to Houston and, due to injuries, saw action in two games for the Oilers before departing for the Los Angeles Rams, where he was a little-used backup. His career ended at that point, but he did briefly return to pro football in 1983 with the Los Angeles Express of the USFL and gained 32 yards on 12 carries. Overall after departing the WFL, Davis ran for a total of 753 yards, caught 45 passes for 499 yards (11.1 avg.), returned 49 kickoffs for a 22.9-yard average, and scored five touchdowns.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating
Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)
All-Purpose: Total Yards
Defense: Interceptions, Sacks
Kickoff Returns: Average
Punt Returns: Average
Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970