Davis SEC player of the week, then no-show

Posted 4:06PM on Wednesday 1st October 2003 ( 21 years ago )

KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE - Tennessee tailback Jabari Davis went from star two weeks ago to virtual no-show last weekend against South Carolina. Is Davis steamed? Demanding the ball more? Nope. His parents and even neighbors asked him what happened, but not Jabari. ``I just feel out of character asking questions like that,'' he said. The No. 7 Volunteers (4-0, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) travel to Auburn (2-2, 1-0) on Saturday in a game that features two strong backfields. Davis ran 78 yards on 20 carries and scored twice in the 24-10 win at Florida after starter Cedric Houston left the game with a hip injury. Davis was named the SEC offensive player of the week. Houston started again last week in the 23-20 South Carolina overtime victory and ran 86 yards on 24 carries. Davis touched the ball only four times for 12 yards. ``I don't think we ever got into the true flow of the game to rotate those guys like we wanted to,'' coach Phillip Fulmer said. ``We got Jabari in early and probably didn't get him in enough.'' Houston and Davis, both juniors and high school Parade All-Americans, are part of a crowded and talented Tennessee backfield. They are two of four running backs the Vols signed in 2001. Davis was nicknamed ``J-Train'' at Tucker High School in Georgia for his bruising running style. Of the other signees, Derrick Tinsley moved to receiver, and Keldrick Williams transferred to Alabama State. Then the Vols signed Gerald Riggs, another Parade All-American, in 2002. Houston earned the starting spot last year after Travis Stephens graduated and held onto it this fall. Fulmer said he considers both Houston and Davis starters although Houston gets first crack. ``We wanted somebody to take the lead, and that's what Ced has done,'' running backs coach Woody McCorvey said. ``Jabari knows that when he gets in there to get an opportunity he's going to have to make the most of it.'' This season, Davis has done just that. He has scored four touchdowns so far, the first coming on a 44-yard run up the middle against Fresno State. Davis' specialty is punching in touchdowns at the goal line. Houston scored his first touchdown of the season last week and leads the team with 432 yards on 81 rushes. Davis has 245 yards on 44 carries. McCorvey said Houston and Davis have proven to be ``team players'' and work well together. ``After the game, everybody wanted to ask me that question, my parents, people in my apartment,'' Davis said. ``Just talking to my mom and dad, they told me don't get upset or anything, just stay positive, have a good attitude, be blessed that you're healthy ... and (that) you got a victory, which I feel is the most important thing.'' Davis doesn't question McCorvey, whose task during games is to determine which back goes in on which play, but admits he's thought about it. ``Just getting four carries was really shocking to me, but I don't have control of that,'' he said. Houston believes everyone will get more play time against Auburn. ``Jabari's been running good. I've been running good,'' Houston said. So where does that leave Riggs and Corey Larkins, fourth on the depth chart? Riggs, a sophomore, hasn't played since the opener because of a sprained right ankle. The coaches believe he's close to full speed. Larkins, a junior kickoff returner, goes in on long downs. He doesn't have to ask about his lack of playing time. ``Playing behind Ced and Jabari,'' Larkins said, ``they bust up there 4 or 5 yards a carry, you know (we) won't have many third-and-longs.''

http://accesswdun.com/article/2003/10/171644