Russell Davis (running back)

Infobox NFLretired


width=
caption=
position=FB
number=
birthdate=birth date and age|1956|9|15
Millen, Georgia
deathdate=
debutyear=1980
finalyear=1983
draftyear=1979
draftround=4
draftpick=86
college=Michigan
teams=Pittsburgh Steelers (1980-1983)
stat1label=Rushing yards
stat1value=474
stat2label=Receiving yards
stat2value=45
stat3label=Kickoff return yards
stat3value=168
pfr=DaviRu00
dbf=DAVISRUS01
highlights=First team All-Big Ten
Michigan Wolverines team MVP
Michigan Wolverines team Captain
Big Ten Conference Champion (3x)
HOF=
CollegeHOF=

Russell Davis, III (born birth date and age|1956|9|15 in Millen, Georgia is a former professional American football fullback who was drafted by and played for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. He had starred for the Michigan Wolverines football team in college. Davis attended Woodbridge High School in Virginia. [cite web|url=http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=DAVISRUS01|title=Russell Davis |publisher=databaseSports.com|work=databaseFootball.com |accessdate=2007-12-15]

College

Davis was the Most Valuable Player for Bo Schembechler's Big Ten Conference champion Michigan Wolverines during the 1977 NCAA Division I-A football season.Cite web|url=http://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1977fbt.htm|title=1977 Football Team|accessdate=2007-12-15|date=2007-03-31|publisher=The Regents of the University of Michigan] He was elected captain at the beginning of the 1978 NCAA Division I-A football season and was selected as First team All-Big Ten at the conclusion of the season after the team defended its conference championship a second time in a row.Cite web|url=http://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1978fbt.htm|title=1978 Football Team|accessdate=2007-12-15|date=2007-03-31|publisher=The Regents of the University of Michigan] During his Michigan Wolverines Career he accumulated a total of 2550 yards rushing, including eighteen touchdowns and five 100-yard games. [cite web|url=http://stats.ath.umich.edu/football/footstart.php|title=Michigan Football Statistic Archive Query Page|publisher=Regents of the University of Michigan|date=2003|accessdate=2007-12-15] He had started three games at fullback (Rob Lytle started the other nine) during the 1976 NCAA Division I-A football season when he enjoyed his first Big Ten Conference Championship. [Cite web|url=http://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/1976fbt.htm|title=1976 Football Team|accessdate=2007-12-15|date=2007-03-31|publisher=The Regents of the University of Michigan] He then started all twelve games at fullback for the 1977 and 1978 conference champions. In his three Rose Bowl appearances, he totaled 146 yards rushing and during the January 21978 Rose Bowl he led all rushers with 79 yards on 18 carries. [cite web|url=http://www.mgoblue.com/document_file/fbl-bowl-history-2003.pdf|title=Michigan's Bowl History|accessdate=2007-12-15|publisher=University of Michigan & Host Interactive] Davis was involved in the last game (of two All-time) in which Michigan has had three rushers accumulate 100 yards.cite web|url=http://www.mgoblue.com/document_file/fbl-2007spring-records1.pdf|title=Record Book|accessdate=2007-12-27|date=2007|publisher=University of Michigan & Host Interactive] [cite web|url=http://stats.ath.umich.edu/football/gametot.php?gkey=273|title=Versus Stanford September 18, 1976|accessdate=2007-12-27|date=2003|publisher=Regents of the University of Michigan]

Professional career

He was drafted in the fourth round of the 1979 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. [cite web|url=http://www.databasefootball.com/draft/draftyear.htm?yr=1979&lg=nfl|title=1979 NFL Player Draft|accessdate=2007-12-15
publisher=databaseSports.com|work=databaseFootball.com |date=2006] However, he did not play at all for Chuck Knoll during the 1979 NFL season in which they won Super Bowl XIV. During 42 games over the course of four seasons from 1980 to 1983 he accumulated a total of 474 rushing on 104 carries. [cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/players/russelldavis/careerstats?id=DAV725754|title=All-Time Players: Russell Davis|accessdate=2007-12-15|publisher=NFL Enterprises LLC] The Steelers would not return to the playoffs until the 1982 NFL season. They lost in the first round of the 1982-83 NFL Playoffs and 1983-84 NFL Playoffs. [cite web|url=http://www.databasefootball.com/teams/teamyear.htm?tm=PIT&lg=nfl&yr=1982|title=1982 Pittsburgh Steelers|accessdate=2007-12-15|publisher=databaseSports.com|work=databaseFootball.com] [cite web|url=http://www.databasefootball.com/teams/teamyear.htm?tm=PIT&lg=nfl&yr=1983|title=1983 Pittsburgh Steelers|accessdate=2007-12-15|publisher=databaseSports.com|work=databaseFootball.com]

ee also

*Lists of Michigan Wolverines football rushing leaders

Notes