Just a few days after Gamecock legend Harold Green was voted into the South Carolina Football Hall of Fame, fans of the garnet and black are once again reflecting on one of their favorite team's all-time legendary running backs: on his 31st birthday, Mike Davis is retiring from the NFL. He spent 8 seasons active in the league from 2015-2022 but did not play in 2023.
Mike Davis (2.0; if you know, you know) spurned the Florida Gators to join the Steve Spurrier-led Gamecocks in the class of 2012. The high 4-star back was one of the best high school ball-carriers in the country, and joining a position group with the already-legendary Marcus Lattimore and a few underrated veterans like Brandon Wilds and Kenny Miles had USC fans ecstatic.
However, when Lattimore got hurt during Davis' freshman year, Davis had to play a little more than expected. The experience prepared him for taking over the starting duties in 2013. In 2013 and 2014, Mike Davis compiled over 2700 yards from scrimmage (2165 rushing, 720 receiving) and 21 touchdowns. He made All-SEC teams after both seasons.
Davis left the program after the 2014 season and was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers. He spent two years with the '9ers, two seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, part of one with the Chicago Bears, nearly two seasons with the Carolina Panthers, one campaign with the Atlanta Falcons, and a final year with the Baltimore Ravens.
Davis' best season came with the local Carolina Panthers when he logged over 1000 yards and 8 touchdowns in 12 starts. He was also 4th in the entire NFL in receptions by a running back that season.
As he retires, South Carolina football fans will remember him as one of the best to ever don the Block C on his helmet, and they are thankful that they got the chance to watch him play as a pro with the local Panthers and Atlanta Falcons for about one-third of his professional career.