Mike Davis' gifts for running the football are such that coach Steve Spurrier has said he expects his junior running back to enter the NFL after this season.
While Davis' raw power and speed might not be on a level with Georgia's Todd Gurley, he has more quickness than Gurley and can make tacklers miss more effectively. He's added some size in the offseason, up to 225 pounds, and figures to be the centerpiece of a South Carolina offense that will feature a dominant offensive line with a new starter at quarterback. An injury-free season is all he'll need to post back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons.
Pulling back the curtain on the vote
If nothing else, the panel was consistent in their votes for Davis. Three placed him 15th on their top-20 lists, another 13th, and three didn't rank him at all.
What some of our analysts are saying about Davis
"He's coming off a monster season and he should be even better in 2014. He has outstanding vision, balance and toughness." -- Daniel Jeremiah
"He reminds me of former Florida Gators star Fred Taylor with his all-around combination of speed and power." -- Chase Goodbread
"With his speed, he can break a big run off, but he's also stout enough to pound it between the tackles 20 times a game." -- Bryan Fischer
"He gets overshadowed in his own league, much less the nation, but he can do it all. He is fast and he runs hard." -- Mike Huguenin
Where do fans rank Davis?
We asked Twitter and Facebook users who they considered the best player in college football. Davis did not receive any votes among the more than 19,000 responses. That's not surprising since his name does not resonate nationally, and he was overshadowed by teammate Jadeveon Clowney last year. A big year, which many expect to be his last at South Carolina, should change things.
