COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF: Day 43

Cyclone Fanatic is counting down the days until Iowa State’s season opener against Northern Iowa by bringing you a stat, former Cyclone moment or any other random tidbits every morning to help countdown the days.

Today the countdown reaches day 43.

No. 43- Troy Davis’ career rushing record

If you ask anyone who is one of the greatest running backs in Big 12 history, Iowa State’s Troy Davis always comes to mind.

Davis came to Ames in 1994 and was rarely used. He only carried the ball 35 times for 187 yards in nine games as a freshman. But once his sophomore season came around, Davis burst onto the scene in Ames and onto the national college football scene.

During the 1995 season, Davis rushed for 2,010 yards and 15 touchdowns on 345 carries. That performance helped Davis finish fifth in the Heisman race. Davis followed up his incredible sophomore year with an even better junior season.

The 1996 season saw Davis follow up his 1995 season with 2,185 yards and 21 touchdowns. With that outing, Davis became the first running back in the NCAA to ever rush for back-to-back 2,000-yard seasons. Also in 1996, Davis won Big 12 Player of the Year, was named First-Team All-American and was the runner-up for the Doak Walker award, along with the Heisman.

Davis decided to skip his senior year and enter the NFL Draft. Davis finished his Cyclone career with 4,382 rushing yards, which is still Iowa State’s career rushing record.

Davis went on to play with the New Orleans Saints for three years and play for several CFL teams for seven seasons.

Jared Stansbury

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Jared a native of Clarinda, Iowa, started as the Cyclone Fanatic intern in August 2013, primarily working as a videographer until starting on the women’s basketball beat prior to the 2014-15 season. Upon earning his Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Iowa State in May 2016, Jared was hired as the site’s full-time staff writer, taking over as the primary day-to-day reporter on football and men’s basketball. He was elevated to the position of managing editor in January 2020. He is a regular contributor on 1460 KXNO in Des Moines and makes regular guest appearances on radio stations across the Midwest. Jared resides in Ankeny with his four-year-old puggle, Lolo.

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