Name: Malik Davis
Number: 20
Position: Running Back
Class: Redshirt Junior
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 205 pounds
Hometown: Tampa, Fla.
High School: Jesuit
Twitter: @Campaign_Lik
2020 statistics:
| ATT | YDS | AVG | TD | LNG | REC | YDS | AVG | TD | LNG | FUM | LST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 66 | 310 | 4.7 | 0 | 39 | 31 | 377 | 12.2 | 0 | 39 | 0 | 0 |
Overview:
A three-star recruit out of Tampa, Davis wasn’t expected to contribute much as a true freshman when he signed with former Gators coach Jim McElwain. But during his first year on campus on 2017, he was one of the lone bright spots in an anemic Florida offense. He played in seven games (and started two) before an injury ended his season, but he still managed to finish second on the team in rushing with 526 yards and two touchdowns on 79 carries.
He was expected to be a major part of the offense in 2018, but just three games into the season, he suffered another injury that ended his campaign, as he finished with just 61 yards on 13 carries. He took a medical redshirt for the season.
Davis returned healthy for the 2019 season, but he saw his role on the team diminish considerably. Florida didn’t run the ball much, and Davis found himself third on the depth chart behind Lamical Perine and Dameon Pierce. Despite appearing in 12 games, he only had 86 yards on 34 carries with a touchdown.
He slightly returned to form in 2020, though UF’s run game as a whole struggled once again. Davis played in all 12 games and started two of them, finishing with 310 yards on 66 carries, the most since his freshman season. He didn’t manage a touchdown, though.
Davis returns for his final season of eligibility as a redshirt senior in 2021, and though he’ll likely be playing behind Pierce (and will have to compete with former five-stars Lorenzo Lingard and Demarkcus Bowman, as well as Nay’Quan Wright for backup reps), he’ll try to maximize the potential he’s shown in flashes throughout his career.
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