UGA RB target Mike Davis says he is no “jersey diva”
Loading ...Mike Davis, who is one of UGA’s top remaining recruiting targets, said he is no “jersey diva.”
The running back from Stephenson High School made national headlines for all the wrong reasons this week: Rivals did an article about the challenges of assigning jersey numbers at national all-star games that was titled “What’s in a number? Apparently quite a bit.”
Monday’s article led off with the story of Kevon Seymour, a star DB prospect from California who was reportedly upset about not being assigned his preferred No. 1 jersey for the U.S. Army All-America Bowl at 1 p.m. Saturday (televised by NBC).
It stated that Seymour “willingly admits he’ll look at the rosters of potential colleges to see if No. 1 is available. If it’s not, the school’s chances of landing him diminish.”
The article also indentified Davis as another all-star who was reportedly pouting about his assigned jersey number:
“One was visibly upset. Mike Davis of Stone Mountain (Ga.) Stephenson made such a fuss about his assigned No. 16 that he was given a new number (14), making him the only player without his name on his jersey. But that didn’t help – neither was the No. 28 he wanted.”
The article quickly went viral, appearing on Yahoo’s homepage and on other websites, including Deadspin, which added “You’d think they were a couple of 8-year-old girls fighting over the last Hello Kitty backpack in your local Wet Seal [children’s clothing store].”
UGA RB target Mike Davis: "I'm a good person and a team player" (Photo by US Army All-America Bowl)
Most damagingly, it also ignited a wave of negative comments about Davis on college football message boards, including fans of his five finalists – UGA, South Carolina, Florida State, Clemson and Tennessee. To many, it made Davis come across as a “me first” and self-absorbed prospect that nobody wants despite a wealth of talent.
On late Tuesday night, Davis told the AJC that the Rivals story was incorrect. This is his version of events:
“This is exactly what happened, since they tried to twist the story around: I was a late invitation to play in the game and when I got there, they gave me the No. 14 jersey I guess to walk around in. I was assigned No. 16 for the game. When I looked at the roster, I saw that nobody had my high school jersey, which is No. 28. I asked the director if I could get No. 28 because no one had it. If someone already had 28, I would’ve never said anything. I would’ve stuck with whatever number they gave me. The director was like, he was going to try his best to get No. 28 for me, and that was the end of it. I didn’t fuss about it. I just asked him. I don’t know where they got where I was fussing about it. The reporter never talked to me about it. Go read the story – I’m not even quoted in it. It’s just not true.
“I guess they put me in the article because other people were talking about jersey numbers, and they just needed someone else. But them putting me in story that went all over the Internet was just wrong. It was wrong because it made people look at me the wrong way. My family back in Georgia heard all about it and called me because they were surprised. They know I’m not like that. That article made me look like a bad person and that I’m going to be a cancer to a college team. That’s not true at all. You can ask my high school teammates and my coaches. I’m a good person and a team player.”
Davis will announce his college decision on Jan. 31. How important is a jersey number in picking a college? “That’s the thing about all of this; I haven’t even talked to a college about a specific number,” Davis said. “It wouldn’t be important at all. The only thing I’m looking at is playing time and the place where I feel at home. Picking a college number isn’t something that’s serious to me.”
Is Davis leaning to UGA? There was another report that claimed UGA was the leader for Davis. “That was a misunderstanding but not a big deal like the jersey thing. It was the way the reporter asked the question. I thought he was asking me ‘out of the three visits I have taken – Georgia, FSU and Tennessee – which one would I pick if I had to sign this weekend?’ I said Georgia. I did. And I like Georgia, but I still have to finish my visits in January. It’s between those five schools. I will pick on Jan. 31.”
One last thing about Davis and his all-star jersey: He will be wearing the No. 28 with his name across the back on Saturday. Game officials brought it to him after practice.
Georgia players in US Army All-America Bowl, 1 p.m Saturday on NBC-TV
- Geno Smith, DB, St. Pius, committed to Alabama
Lowndes LB-WR Josh Harvey-Clemons told ESPN that Florida leads over UGA (AJC)
- Markuss Eligwe, LB, Stone Mountain, committed to FSU
- Raphael Kirby, LB, Stephenson, committed to Miami
- Mike Davis, RB, Stephenson, undecided (UGA, South Carolina, Clemson, FSU and Tennessee)
- Dillon Lee, LB, Buford, committed to Alabama
- Josh Harvey-Clemons, LB-WR, Lowndes, undecided (Florida, UGA, FSU and Louisville)
Assistant coaches: Corey Jarvis, Duluth; Randy McPherson, Lowndes
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT OVER THE HOLIDAYS …
- De-committing: The “Dark Side” of college football recruiting (click on story link)
- Tennessee’s Derek Dooley parts way with 3rd Georgia recruit (click on story link)
- Is UGA on verge of landing another top RB? (click on story link)
- Top Alabama recruit flirting with UGA (click on story link)
ALSO: Expect to Cook High School WR Travin Henry to get a lot of looks this month. Just before the NCAA dead period, the 6-foot-3, 215-pounder picked up a handful of offers — Memphis, Middle Tennessee State and Western Kentucky. “Quite a few others have expressed interest dating back to this past summer,” Cook assistant Jesse Lynch said. “UGA has shown interest, but they are an unlikely destination as they have higher-rated prospects at each of the positions they were recruiting him at [OLB, TE]. They have told him that there is still a possibilty depending on how things go with their top-rated recruits and early entry NFL prospects. Other D1’s that have shown interest in the last year are Central Florida, South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Auburn, Louisiana-Lafayette, Kentucky, Tulane, Florida International, Western Michigan, and UAB.” Here’s Henry’s video …
-- By Michael Carvell, AJC Recruiting Blog
Got an item? mcarvell@ajc.com
- BOOKMARK the NEW AJC Recruiting homepage here
- Have you missed anything over the last few days? Catch up with our feed of the LATEST RECRUITING NEWS
Note: Inappropriate BLOG comments and personal attacks will NOT be tolerated. We love the lively discussions but hate-filled, harassing and irresponsible comments are unacceptable.
Please Follow me on Twitter @RecruitingAJC + Please be my Facebook friend here
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
255 comments Add your comment
Mad Mike
January 4th, 2012
11:16 am
doesn’t that qualify as libel?
LongtimeDawg
January 4th, 2012
11:19 am
He doesn’t need to change his number; he needs to change his name to either Crowell or Ealey.
Ray
January 4th, 2012
11:22 am
It’s very amazing how racist or stereotypical people can be and you still expect these kids to come to your school. If I was a recruit I saw half this crap on GT or UGA blogs I would think twice about coming to either school regardless if I live in Georgia.
Mike Davis I hope you do go to UGA, but only if you want to not because anyone else wants you to.
Much ado about....
January 4th, 2012
11:23 am
Nothing!
Much ado about....
January 4th, 2012
11:27 am
Ray, admit you’re a hater and are telling the kid in your statement YOU don’t want him to go to GA.
Kids will go where they want or possibly their parents want.
Nobody is going to go to a certain school because Ray, Bamard, or whoever on a blog wants them to go to a certain school.
Much ado about....
January 4th, 2012
11:29 am
Gators loved when he was a commit….funny how the vile comments spew from the lizards now that he won’t be a gator.
Ray
January 4th, 2012
11:34 am
I am no hater I’m a fan of UGA and proud of it. Plus I hate the fact that people such as so many here and other places if they even hear one bad story on a recruit his reputation might as well be damned. I don’t really blame the kid in neither of these stories the one about the jersey or the de-commit from UF if I was in his situation I’d be upset too.
Ray
January 4th, 2012
11:35 am
Think this thing ate my post god how I can hate this site sometimes.
Dawg Sodomizer
January 4th, 2012
11:38 am
You will be destroyed by South Carolina and Florida, and probably cough one up to Vandy. It is over for the dawgs, you lost. Nobody respects your program, and know that when push comes to shove, Richt will shit the bed. He is a wimp, along with the whole Ugay fanbase. It is over, you will be dominated by the true ballers of the league. Deal with it you smelly mutts.
Ray
January 4th, 2012
11:38 am
Okay try this again
I’m not a hater and I’m actually a UGA fan and proud of it. I just hate when people get all giddy over a recruit like they own them, and once something comes out bad about them their reputation be damned. I actually side with Davis on both of the stories the UF de-commitment and the Jersey incident because if I was in his shoes I’d be raging mad myself or at least upset.
I know Davis will go where he wants to not where anyone wants him to go, and if he goes elsewhere I wish him luck no matter what. I’m not about to be like others on here and slobber over 17 and 18 year old kids in fact it’s kind of disturbing.
G-Dawg
January 4th, 2012
11:40 am
Muchadoabout…funny, trolls come on here and bash a few Dawgs fans for doing the same thing.
5150 UOAD
January 4th, 2012
11:55 am
TRUE DAWG FAN’s great post on the Tech blogs. He brings so much VALUE to the blogs.
Bc im on here during the middle of my work day on the slowest work week of the year in between Xmas and New Years I need to get a life???
WHY ARE YOU ON THIS WEEK THEN?
ahahahaha I graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelors in Family and Financial Planning. Also I dont have any kids so my money spent on tickets is my business.
Actually I got a great education at UGA.
FROM YOUR SPELLING I DOUBT YOU GRADUATED laude ANYTHING
This place speeds my day up, seeing as its the slowest week of the year ill be here till thursday!!
AGAIN WHY ARE YOU ON TODAY THEN?
ahahahha Actually engaged and will be married in May, so once again………. YOUR WRONG!
LUCKY GUY. WHAT IS HIS NAME?
When you work with 10M$ clients and up this is the slowest week. They are all off in Europe or on their yachts headed for their beach houses for new years. But then again you can just use your insane logic and make up all these extra assumptions to prove your point.
you asked why were slow if all other financial institutions were slammed so I told you. When your clients have a min. of 10M investable assets you dont have much to do at years end except to make sure their charitable donations go through. Its on auto pilot here and we are just here this week incase of a client emergency. So believe what you want about me doesnt hurt my feelings even a little.
you asked why were slow if all other financial institutions were slammed so I told you. When your clients have a min. of 10M investable assets you dont have much to do at years end except to make sure their charitable donations go through. Its on auto pilot here and we are just here this week incase of a client emergency. So believe what you want about me doesnt hurt my feelings even a little.
They were 11-1 last year and were Co champions of the big ten that year of course they came out in full support. They squandered the big 10 championship this year, and most likely left a sour taste in their fans mouths.
THERE IS THE MONEY YOU TALK ABOUT.
Last year were they came into this game on fire and had a great shot at winning and beating bama (which obviously didnt happen).
This year they limp into their bowl game, so not unnatural that their fans wouldnt wanna pay 1K per fan to come down to Florida when there is a good chance that they get waxed again this year by an SEC Powerhouse.
HOW DID THE powerhouse SEC DAWGS DO AGAINS MSU AGAIN?
Stop crying and wait till Jan 2 and we will show you how a real team from georgia is supposed to play.
I agree that a lot of extra credit given to Big ten teams whens its not deserved. They dont have the speed to compete with the SEC, OSU proved that in back to back years. as have countless others that get blown out in bowl games. MSU got that treatment from Bama last year.
THE DAWGS LOST TO MSU
Actually being a financial planner all I need is spell check. Havent taken english since I was a freshman at UGA about 7 years ago. Thats the beauty of working with numbers.
I work 8:30 to 5 monday through friday big guy. If you dont like what I have to say then dont read it.
But dont worry Im off for the day. And good news for you im off on friday as well so I wont be here then either!
G-Dawg
January 4th, 2012
12:01 pm
Let it go dude!!!!!
G-Dawg
January 4th, 2012
12:03 pm
Sounds like another Ealey!!
last comment
January 4th, 2012
12:03 pm
sounds like a dawg imposter trying to influence to another school…pretty obvious.
These kids don’t care about bloggers…..they’re not making a decision based on anyone’s meaningless rants in here.
True Dawg Fan
January 4th, 2012
12:05 pm
5150 UOAD
January 4th, 2012
11:55 am
ahahahahahahahahahahahaha you went back and got all of that???? O and FYI you showed how much you can read by saying that I graduated 7 years ago
“Actually being a financial planner all I need is spell check. Havent taken english since I was a freshman at UGA about 7 years ago.”- Learn to read clown!!!
You said I managed pro athletes when I clearly did not either. So there ya go you went through all that trouble to try and prove me wrong and where did that get you??? 0-2 and you did all the work thanks retard!!!
As for the MSU game. Had Bobo not gone into his shell it would have been a route, but up by 16 what does he do???? go conservative.
Anything else you would like to try and bash me about and then be wrong again retard???
Lot of imposters
January 4th, 2012
12:06 pm
posing as dog fans…..it’s obvious loser(s)…..trying to talk trash about an active recruit under fake GA moniker is pretty transparent.
Michael Carvell
January 4th, 2012
12:07 pm
@Lots of imposters, no it was one person, and his comments until six different screen names have been removed.
True Dawg Fan
January 4th, 2012
12:07 pm
Lot of imposters
January 4th, 2012
12:06 pm
posing as dog fans…..it’s obvious loser(s)…..trying to talk trash about an active recruit under fake GA moniker is pretty transparent.
all techie nerds.
Lot of imposters
January 4th, 2012
12:08 pm
True dawg fan is definitely one
True Dawg Fan
January 4th, 2012
12:09 pm
True Dawg Fans Mon
January 4th, 2012
12:07 pm
Quit posting on here and get back in the basement before a neighbor sees you. I will have lunch down in 15 minutes fatty. And turn down that rap music, your making the trailer shake.
ahahahahah you cant even bash me if you tried????
So lets analyze your insult. First you say im in my moms basement, then you say I live in a tralier??? Thats a pretty sweet trailer to have a basement on it too!! prob makes driving it hell though since part of the trailer would be underground!!
Give it a rest youre pathetic!
True Dawg Fan
January 4th, 2012
12:10 pm
Lot of imposters
January 4th, 2012
12:08 pm
True dawg fan is definitely one
doubtful, but then again some techie nerd prob just copied your handle and posted that
5150 UOAD
January 4th, 2012
12:11 pm
SORRY diff in 7 yr ago in English and 7 years as Graduating.
I didn’t go back to all your rants I just took the high lights.
Why again are you not WORKING hard today?
I don’t have twitter so I can’t read the kids post.
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
January 4th, 2012
12:11 pm
Let me understand…you pass on this guy but took Crowell. It appears the missing man formation was very much true!!!!!! Even Nick Saban couldn’t save Crowell for the kid is just another punk from Columbus. UGA….Big Hat and no cattle but you do talk a great game.
waitnsee
January 4th, 2012
12:15 pm
Sad that GA’s top prospects in this game are going elsewhere and not UGA.
True Dawg Fan
January 4th, 2012
12:21 pm
5150 UOAD
January 4th, 2012
12:11 pm
SORRY diff in 7 yr ago in English and 7 years as Graduating.
I didn’t go back to all your rants I just took the high lights.
Why again are you not WORKING hard today?
I don’t have twitter so I can’t read the kids post.
it says it in that post you copied and pasted, that I was a freshman 7 years ago!!!!! stop making excuses up for why you are dumb!!!
As for posting I have spent maybe a half hour- hour on here today (Including my morning read and lunch which is about 45 min of it all so far)
Anything else retard???
True Dawg Fan
January 4th, 2012
12:21 pm
waitnsee
January 4th, 2012
12:15 pm
Sad that GA’s top prospects in this game are going elsewhere and not UGA.
Take your own advice and wait and see.
Brainiac(Dawg for life/Richt fan for life)
January 4th, 2012
12:23 pm
Our trailer has a basement = Saban the Statue man & Turd Roll
Facts
January 4th, 2012
12:26 pm
An Inconvenient Truth
US News Ranking
GT: 36
UGA: 62
Endowment Size
GT: $1.5 BILLION
UGA: $600 million
Avg. Starting Salary
GT: $59,000
UGA: $44,000
Football
GT: 4 National Titles (1990)
UGA: 2 National Titles (1980)
Basketball
GT: 2 Final Fours, Chris Bosh, Derrick Favors, Thaddeus Young, Jarrett Jack
UGA: 1 Final Four.
Baseball
GT: Mark Teixeira, Nomar Garciaparra, Kevin Brown, Matt Weiters
UGA: Gordon Beckham.
Golf
GT: Matt Kuchar, Stewart Cink, David Duval, Bryce Molder
UGA: Bubba Watson.
GT is a GLOBAL brand. UGA is a regional brand.
5150 UOAD
January 4th, 2012
12:27 pm
All the best trailers have basements. A trailer on a 4 concrete block foundation has a crawl space basement. It is where all the best DAWS fans stay when Bama and LSU are on the schedule.
layinlow
January 4th, 2012
12:37 pm
They need to go hard after gurley and if they don’t land him grab two hungry 3 star RB recruits from georgia to go along with marshall. We need no more crowell/ealey/king type recruits at running back. Crowell is a bust and a wuss, period. If he’s not in trouble he can’t stay healthy so we have got to lock some backs this year. I have zero faith in crowell and samuel is a DGD but he is just too stiff and upright to be a great back. He needs to move back to linebacker and try to salvage his NFL opportunities because he won’t make it a running back.
Pacific Dawg
January 4th, 2012
12:39 pm
Any truth to the rumor that Will Friend is recruiting NG Vasi “Tombstone” Papulu as an OT? The guy is huge 6′6″ & 360 lbs. and quick on his feet.
Barticus Maximus
January 4th, 2012
1:03 pm
Good thing he did not wear 34 in High School. Sounds like he learned a valuable lesson IRT media. Be very careful..
Barticus Maximus
January 4th, 2012
1:09 pm
Hey FACTS, I am sorry that you have such issues that you feel as you need to post this crap. I label it that because you happened to dismiss some other National Championships for UGA (Gym). Bottom line is that you are jealous of the UGa fanbase.
Roger
January 4th, 2012
1:13 pm
Bulldogs should not have ANY number 1 jerseys. A number 1 jerseys has all the connotations of a self-centered “it’s all about me” attitude. Richt should take away the 2 number 1 jerseys as he needs to show, particularly Crowell, who is running that team. And this punk referenced in the article should be avoided by any coach that expects to maintain a level of discipline on his team.
There is no “#1″ in TEAM!
JDawg1785
January 4th, 2012
1:15 pm
Don’t worry about “Facts,” Barticus Maximus. The only “inconvenient truth” is 31-17. HBTD!
rabundog
January 4th, 2012
1:26 pm
Thanks for allowing Mike to give his side of the story – sounds like someone blew it out of proportion – if there is no news somebody has to create some
msd
January 4th, 2012
1:34 pm
Total DIVA. Bailed on UF becasue he says they sent more coaches to another RB than they sent to him…. Petty and clueless. Didn’t wnat to compete with Marshall if he went to UF, so his thought is to go where Marshall goes? Gotta wonder about the thought process, if there is one.
Contractor
January 4th, 2012
1:34 pm
I would love to grab Mike Davis and bolster our backfield, but he pales in comparison to Josh Harvey-Clemons in my eyes to the impact he can make for the Dawgs. Georgia coaches need to get out there and do everything they can to sway him from Florida. He is exactly what we need once Jarvis Jones leaves, Rambo decides whatever he’s doing, and even at the receiver position where we can use the help to free up Malcolm Mitchell, Michael Bennett, and Chris Conely.
Mike the Tiger
January 4th, 2012
1:40 pm
If this guy is another Crowell-like diva, he is talking to a coach who will pander to his every wish.
Snoop
January 4th, 2012
1:40 pm
Why are no Georgia Players (I think there are six or eight) on the Army HS All-America team not committed to UGA? They are all committed to our rivals.
This is another reason to can Richt and Bobo. It’s all a big facade with them…
Dawg Tired
January 4th, 2012
1:50 pm
I’d give him # 1 if he wanted it.
G-Dawg
January 4th, 2012
2:06 pm
If recruits dont want to be team players…then they can get my #1 finger!!!
G-Dawg
January 4th, 2012
2:07 pm
Clemons, Jenkins, Whitehead, Avery are much bigger necessities.
gregpatrick
January 4th, 2012
2:11 pm
Davis is for real. Nice kid, great attitude, big heart, tremendous football knowledge. I predict he will be Lattimore-like wherever he goes. Hopefully, he will end up wearing #28 for the Dawgs.
BILLY JACK
January 4th, 2012
2:42 pm
UGA will land Davis-Clemmons and Young that is for sure Gurley and Jenkins not sure about.
no go
January 4th, 2012
2:54 pm
uga doesn’t need this attitude case—he’s another ICro, “look at me” type player—he’ll be in trouble from day 1—let him go to usc.
True Dawg Fan
January 4th, 2012
3:02 pm
Snoop
January 4th, 2012
1:40 pm
Why are no Georgia Players (I think there are six or eight) on the Army HS All-America team not committed to UGA? They are all committed to our rivals.
This is another reason to can Richt and Bobo. It’s all a big facade with them…
You have no clue what you are talking about
GAWJABOI
January 4th, 2012
3:07 pm
Yall do not know this Man, yall are always trying to Judge someone…..Check your own damn attitude…Yall believe everything the MEDIA say….yall wasn’t there so yall dont know what happen…I BELIEVE MIKE the reporter is trying to get a CHECK….. YALL U HATING ASS LAME ASS BABA PEOPLE STOP “POISONING TREES” OVER FOOTBALL I UNDERSTAND YALL HAVE NOTHING TO DO AFTER FOOTBALL SEASON ACCEPT SLEEP WITH YO COUSINS DURING THE OFF SEASON….THATS Y ALL ARE GOOD AT FOOTBALL DUMB PEOPLE ARE STRONG AS HELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ROLL TIDE RIGHT OFF THE CLIFF OF A MOUNTAIN .
Who cares...
January 4th, 2012
3:27 pm
God help us… this is our future generation!