Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Catching up with NFL prospect D.J. Davis
04/13/2020 | 10:50:00 | Football
CARBONDALE, Ill. — D.J. Davis was a standout running back at Southern Illinois for the last four years. The Pompano Beach, Fla. native concluded his career with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and 5,431 career all-purpose yards — the second-most yards in school history and seventh-most in MVFC history. Recently, he gave insight on his offseason activities in preparation for the NFL Draft, which is under two weeks away.
What have you been up to since the start of the offseason?
When the semester finished in December, I came home to Florida to train at XPE Sports in Fort Lauderdale. I worked with Tony Villani, who's a well-known trainer around Florida. He's been helping me improve ever since I came home. I've been finishing up my degree from SIU with a couple of online classes. I'm set to graduate in May, so everything is coming together.
Where have you placed the most emphasis on with training?
Honestly, I've been working the most on my speed. I have gotten my 40-time down and improved my running mechanics. The facility has a unique training device called the Shredmill. It measures how fast you go and works on your resistance, stride length, take-off speed, and more. The things we're able with the Shredmill and the facility, in general, are amazing.
You had the opportunity to play at the Hula Bowl in January. How was that experience?
The whole experience was pretty good. I met a lot of players who have the same vision as me. I met some former pros as well. One that stood out was Eric Dickerson. People out there were nice, caring, genuine, which made the experience even better. You can never turn down a trip to Hawaii.
You were named a player to watch on the Hula Bowl telecast. How did it feel to receive that honor?
It was a blessing. There were a lot of talented guys from every level of college football, so for me to be one of the players to watch was incredible. I just thanked God and tried to remain humble and keep working. It was a great feeling to see my name in the spotlight.
Where do you see yourself a month from now after the NFL Draft?
I just try to give it all to God. I do believe something good will come out of this all. Whether I am a late-round draft pick, free-agent pickup, or rookie mini-camp signee — I'm going to give it my all. I've prepared myself mentally, physically, and spiritually. I'll be ready for whatever is coming.
What can you bring to an NFL team?
I'm going to bring passion, hard work, resilience, and reliability on and off the field. Coming to any team that gives me an opportunity would be something special.
What are your biggest strengths at the NFL-level?
I study the game so much and have been studying it for a while. Just knowing the game and putting myself in the right position to make a play would be my biggest strength. I will know how to use my strengths and make other player's weaknesses come out. My heart is a big part of it. I fear nothing. I play with my life on the line and put my all into everything.
You played a major role in the rushing, receiving, and return game at SIU with over 5,000 all-purpose yards. Has your versatility helped you become a better football player?
I believe it's enhanced my play to the next level. Doing more is better, especially when you are surrounded by great players. I can run the ball, catch the ball, and play special teams at a high level. Hopefully, that will help me reach the NFL.
How has your experience playing against the MVFC prepared you for the next level?
It's been a great experience. For example, there were a lot of players from the FBS to Division II at the Hula Bowl. Playing with the competition from the MVFC, you see the same type of talent. At SIU alone, we have plenty of talent on the field. Practicing and competing at SIU is no different than if I were at a bigger or smaller school.
How much support have you received through the draft process?
Everyone has been supportive of my journey. Guys like coach Griffin (Nate Griffin), coach Hill (Nick Hill), coach Williams (Nick Williams), and teammates have been reaching out and supporting me. I have kept in contact with a lot of guys through this process. You need those people to check up on you from time to time. All of Saluki Nation has been supporting me as well. It's a great fan base and it's been much easier to go through this process with the support of coaches, teammates, and fans.
What have you been up to since the start of the offseason?
When the semester finished in December, I came home to Florida to train at XPE Sports in Fort Lauderdale. I worked with Tony Villani, who's a well-known trainer around Florida. He's been helping me improve ever since I came home. I've been finishing up my degree from SIU with a couple of online classes. I'm set to graduate in May, so everything is coming together.
Where have you placed the most emphasis on with training?
Honestly, I've been working the most on my speed. I have gotten my 40-time down and improved my running mechanics. The facility has a unique training device called the Shredmill. It measures how fast you go and works on your resistance, stride length, take-off speed, and more. The things we're able with the Shredmill and the facility, in general, are amazing.
You had the opportunity to play at the Hula Bowl in January. How was that experience?
The whole experience was pretty good. I met a lot of players who have the same vision as me. I met some former pros as well. One that stood out was Eric Dickerson. People out there were nice, caring, genuine, which made the experience even better. You can never turn down a trip to Hawaii.
You were named a player to watch on the Hula Bowl telecast. How did it feel to receive that honor?
It was a blessing. There were a lot of talented guys from every level of college football, so for me to be one of the players to watch was incredible. I just thanked God and tried to remain humble and keep working. It was a great feeling to see my name in the spotlight.
Where do you see yourself a month from now after the NFL Draft?
I just try to give it all to God. I do believe something good will come out of this all. Whether I am a late-round draft pick, free-agent pickup, or rookie mini-camp signee — I'm going to give it my all. I've prepared myself mentally, physically, and spiritually. I'll be ready for whatever is coming.
What can you bring to an NFL team?
I'm going to bring passion, hard work, resilience, and reliability on and off the field. Coming to any team that gives me an opportunity would be something special.
What are your biggest strengths at the NFL-level?
I study the game so much and have been studying it for a while. Just knowing the game and putting myself in the right position to make a play would be my biggest strength. I will know how to use my strengths and make other player's weaknesses come out. My heart is a big part of it. I fear nothing. I play with my life on the line and put my all into everything.
You played a major role in the rushing, receiving, and return game at SIU with over 5,000 all-purpose yards. Has your versatility helped you become a better football player?
I believe it's enhanced my play to the next level. Doing more is better, especially when you are surrounded by great players. I can run the ball, catch the ball, and play special teams at a high level. Hopefully, that will help me reach the NFL.
How has your experience playing against the MVFC prepared you for the next level?
It's been a great experience. For example, there were a lot of players from the FBS to Division II at the Hula Bowl. Playing with the competition from the MVFC, you see the same type of talent. At SIU alone, we have plenty of talent on the field. Practicing and competing at SIU is no different than if I were at a bigger or smaller school.
How much support have you received through the draft process?
Everyone has been supportive of my journey. Guys like coach Griffin (Nate Griffin), coach Hill (Nick Hill), coach Williams (Nick Williams), and teammates have been reaching out and supporting me. I have kept in contact with a lot of guys through this process. You need those people to check up on you from time to time. All of Saluki Nation has been supporting me as well. It's a great fan base and it's been much easier to go through this process with the support of coaches, teammates, and fans.
Players Mentioned
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