College Sports

By JOE BUIE
Staff Writer

Tyler Junior College running back Chris Davis is eager to put on the pads and take -- or deliver -- that first big hit.

The former Troup star missed nearly all of spring football with a broken left shoulder blade, and feels like he's fallen behind.

"I think it did (set me back) ... but the coaches must be seeing something they like because I'm still No. 2," said Davis, who participated in TJC's first three-a-day practices Wednesday.

"I didn't get to get better in the spring like everybody else did. I tried to make up for it in the summer but you can't make up for lost time in pads."

The modest and laid-back Davis, who once carried the ball 46 times for 457 yards in a game his senior year, may get to test the shoulder on Saturday during TJC's first full-contact practice.

"I will not avoid contact, that's just how I run," Davis said. "I try to give it to you before you give it to me.

"I might be a little cautious about my shoulder the first time I get hit, but after I take a few licks I'll be all right."

Davis, a 5-8, 215-pound power runner, enters his sophomore year as the No. 2 tailback behind Houston's Ira Duckworth.

A crowded backfield behind Davis includes true freshmen Chris Lenoir (Fort Bend Clements), Brian Eurysthee (Houston Chavez), O'Bryan Bell of Whitehouse, and Jeremy Craft (Houston Lamar).

Davis, an academic qualifier who was told by Division I recruiters that he was either too short or too slow, made his college debut in the fourth game of the 2007 season.

He fumbled on his first carry -- against Navarro -- but regrouped to rush for 86 yards and two touchdowns on 16 attempts.

"I always thought my first college carry would be a big gain ... or something bad was going to happen," said Davis, who carries a 3.5 grade-point average at TJC. "I was hoping coach (Palmer) would put me back in the game. I hadn't fumbled in so long, none my senior year."

Davis' north-south running style leaves nothing to the imagination. It is straight downhill with no wasted motion.

"I don't try to do a whole lot of juking," he said. "If I have to, I will. I really just try to get as many yards as I can on every play."

Davis admits he's probably not your 80-yard touchdown type of running back, but he broke several 15- and 20-yard gains last season.

Davis is a pounder, and he's willing to pound it 30 times a game if that's what it takes.

The Apaches (5-4 record), and Davis, ended the 2007 season on a high note with a third consecutive win. They overcame a 24-0 halftime deficit to beat Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, 41-34.

"It was great because it's actually fueling us for this year," said Davis, who rushed for a season-high 132 yards on 27 carries and scored four touchdowns against NEO. "We're not used to losing. Nobody here is used to losing at all. We think we're going to be able to keep it going for a long time."

TJC head coach Danny Palmer said 88 players went through Wednesday's first workouts. The Apaches wore helmets and shoulder pads for the night practice. ... The TJC men's soccer team will begin the 2008 season No. 9 in the preseason NJCAA national poll. The Apaches finished the 2007 season with a record of 13-4-1 and will open the new season Aug. 26 at Ranger. The home opener is Sept. 5 against Richland at 7 p.m.

TJC running back Chris Davis, a Troup native, works out during the Apaches’ first official football practice at Pat Hartley Field on Wednesday.
(Staff Photo By Herb Nygren Jr.)