INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPTION FROM NFL COMBINE – MIKE DAVIS, SOUTH CAROLINA

(did not put in for advisory committee)

I just did what was best for my mom. I think the season went well despite all the injuries. I think the coaches understood that, me playing through injuries. It’s been great down here to see that coaches understand what I have been through. I am getting great feedback. I see a lot of people say crazy things about me.

(size of RB class)

It didn’t impact impact my decision at all. My decision was based off my mom struggling. I just had to get her in better living. My thing at first was to get my degree in sociology. That’s something I couldn’t get but I plan on going back to get it. My goals here are to run good, test good, measure good. I weighed in today at 217. My height was 5-9.

(played at 223 last year)

I can tell a lot of difference coming from 223 to 217. It’s a major difference. I worked out in Pensacola, at EXOS.

(advice from brother James)

He’s just telling me to tune everything out and work hard and do the things you have been told.

(where will you be picked)

I don’t know man. In my mind, I hope I’m the first running back taken. I feel like I’m the best running back in this draft. That’s my opinion and I’m going to always have that opinion. I talked to (DJ) Swearinger a little bit before the Combine. Also Ace Sanders, Bruce Ellington. I also talked to Marcus Lattimore to. Marcus just tells me to keep my head on straight, do the right things, basically just be me.

(teams you’ve spoken with)

I’d say I spoke with everyone yesterday, downstairs in the media room, just bouncing around talking to teams. They just tell me they like my tape and see that I run hard, have great vision, quick feet. I really haven’t gotten any negative feedback. It’s all been good.

(what do you want to accomplish)

I just want to show the coaches my face and talk to them and do well in my interviews and impress the coaches and let them know why I want to be on their team. I do think I have the ability to play all three downs. Talking to most coaches, they say I do have the ability with the way I run and catch and stick my nose in for blocks. No health concerns, no surgeries, no injuries here. I’m doing everything here. I don’t know what I am going to run. I have been working hard so we’ll see when I get out there.

(what are the crazy things you’ve heard about yourself)

You know how people are on Twitter, I don’t pay it no mind. It’s hard to explain. I just know that come at me hard about things and my decision about leaving. I know a lot of people weren’t happy about it, but they don’t know the reason why I came out was for my mom. I guess a lot of people will respect that when they find out.

(how much have people asked you about falling production)

They understand a lot. That was one of the crazy things I experienced talking to coaches. They understand playing with injuries and why you would come out early. They already knew a lot about me before I told them. They focus a lot on how are you going to play when you are injured, are you going to sit out or are you going to go play with injuries.

(decision to leave)

My mom she was struggling. Before the last game, she had got an eviction notice on her door. When she got that eviction notice, I knew it was time for me to come out. When I came out, I was able to get her in a new house so she’s doing great right now. She doesn’t have to work anymore so she’s loving her new place.

(motivation to play game)

It helps me out a lot. Before I do anything, I close my eyes and think about my mom. The first thing that comes to my mind when I am benching, my mom, get her in a better place, better everything. When I do things, I think about my mom. My brother was able to play at Clemson and play in the NFL a couple years. I learned from his mistakes.

(Lattimore)

Being behind Marcus I learned a lot. Just be true to yourself and you’ll be successful. With Marcus being at South Carolina, I think it will help as far as recruiting. You can’t go wrong with having Marcus Lattimore at South Carolina.

(what will you show coaches)

That I know protections, even though I was injured I was still able to play and grind it out, I’m able to block and catch out of the backfield and also stick my nose in and get the tough yards.

(team-wise what happened)

I have no idea. Some things didn’t fall in place. Usually, we’d get lucky here and there, but I guess the chips didn’t fall for us. Of course we didn’t think something like this would happen. We all were thinking we were going to win every game, that’s everyone’s mindset. I don’t know what happened. That’s just my mindset. I’m always going to think I’m the best guy. Growing up, playing against older guys, that was the thing I had to keep me motivated.