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.
--
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
