University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Davis Named To Prestigious Playboy Preseason All-American Team
4/25/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Davis Named To Prestigious Playboy Preseason All-American Team
Hattiesburg, Miss. - Senior All-American linebacker Rod Davis has been named to the prestigious 46th-annual, 24-member Playboy Preseason All-American team. He will spend the weekend of May 9-11 in Phoenix, Ariz., along with the other members of the team at the annual Playboy All-American weekend and photo shoot. This marks the second Playboy preseason All-American selection from Southern Miss, with Ray Guy (1972) being the only other Golden Eagle to be selected to the team.
"The Playboy All-American team has the reputation for being one of the most prestigious preseason teams," Southern Miss Head Coach Jeff Bower said. "Rod has worked hard during his career and is deserving of any and all All-America recognition that comes his way. Throughout his career, he has been a major contributor for Southern Miss. His efforts last year reached new heights, and I look for his senior season to cap an already outstanding career."
In 2003, Davis has been named a preseason All-American by NationalChamps.net, an on-line football publication and as the sixth-best collegiate football player and top defensive player heading into the spring by CollegeFootballNews.com.
In 2002, Davis was named a first-team All-American by CollegeFootballNews.com and the All-American Football Foundation, a third-team selection by The Associated Press, a third-team selection by The Sporting News and honorable-mention by CNNSI.com.
"This is an outstanding honor to be named to the Playboy preseason All-American team," Davis said. "While I am flattered to receive such a major award, I also am well aware that such honors are the direct result of a lot of hard work by each of my teammates. It's an honor that I have to share with them, and it also is reflective of the national stature and reputation of the Golden Eagle football program."
Davis, who received the 2002 Conerly Trophy signifying the top player in the state of Mississippi, was also a first-team All-Conference USA member for the second year in a row. He led Southern Miss in tackles (168), solo tackles (122), sacks (10.5) and tackles for loss (23.5) and was ranked among the nation's best in each of the listed categories, No. 3 in solo tackles, tied for No. 6 in total tackles, tied for 13th in tackles for loss and No. 18 in sacks.
Davis, one of only two returning AP All-American linebackers, averaged 12.9 tackles a game, 0.81 sacks a game and 1.8 tackles for loss per game. He also registered two interceptions, two pass breakups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He led Conference USA in tackles, solo tackles and sacks and was second in tackles for loss.
Davis finished with double-figure tackles in every game last year except for one and had a season-high 19 tackles against South Florida. He registered at least one sack in seven of the 13 games last season and at least one tackle for loss in every game. He has finished with double-figure tackles in 24 of 35 games in which he has played during his career.
