Tuesday, April 13, 2004
Following the path to glory
Davis fights for spot as starting running back like his father
Article by:
Adam Zolmierski - Sports Reporter
• azolmierski@northernstar.info
NIU running back Adrian Davis always wanted to follow in his father
Wayne’s footsteps.
Davis began playing little league football in Louisiana when he was
7 years old. He wanted to be like his dad, who started at running back
at Louisiana’s Nickels College.
He has been at NIU for three seasons and is fighting for a spot to
be a feature back for the Huskies this fall. He and three other running
backs look to be in close competition to replace NIU career rushing
leader Michael Turner, but Davis’ speed separates him from the
competition.
“Like they say, speed kills,” Davis said. “I’m
a smaller back, so I take shorter strides, and I’m lower to the
ground. When you’re a smaller back, you have to control the ball
better and absorb hits. As long as they can’t catch you, though,
you should be OK.”
Running backs coach DeAndre Smith likes the change of pace the 5-foot-5
Davis brings to the Huskies and said his small stature can be used to
his advantage.
“I believe his size is an advantage because of the way he can
use it with his quickness,” Smith said. “He can get through
holes pretty quick, turn the corner and he’s hard to see.”
Davis’ expectations, like his height, can play in his favor.
“We’re all competing, especially in spring ball,” Davis
said. “You kind of got the feeling that A.J. [Harris] will be the
starter, but I expect to be part of that top-three rotation of running
backs this season.”
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