University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Davis Adds All-America Honors
5/16/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Davis Adds All-America Honors
HATTIESBURG, Miss. ? Senior linebacker Rod Davis continues to add to his collection of All-America honors after being selected to the first team of the CollegeFootballNews.com preseason All-America squad.
Fellow linebacker Michael Boley was named to CollegeFootballNews.com's "Watch List."
The award is the latest for Davis, who in 2002 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.
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.
One of only two returning AP All-American linebackers, Davis 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.
Recently, he also was named to the Playboy Preseason All-America team, joining Ray Guy (1972) as the only Southern Miss players ever to receive this award.
Boley played in all 13 games last season and finished the year as the Golden Eagles' second leading tackler, behind Davis, with 142 total stops. His totals included 16 tackles for loss and eight quarterback sacks, and he recorded two interceptions and three fumble recoveries.
