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Andra Davis has played well a year after a major knee injury.
By ANTONYA ENGLISH
© St. Petersburg Times, published October 4, 2001
GAINESVILLE -- As he lay sprawled across Florida Field experiencing the most agonizing pain in his life, one terrifying thought crept into Andra Davis' mind: His career was over.
Moments earlier, he had felt a snap in his left leg that sent his body crumbling to the ground and his heart racing with fear. It was the 2000 season opener against Ball State, and Davis, a middle linebacker, already had four solo tackles and one assist near the end of the first half. Then it happened.
"The pain was so bad," said Davis, who tore his MCL. "I felt the ligament just pop in my leg. It seemed like everything went in slow motion. I was scared; so scared. I was crying.
"That was my first time being injured in my whole life. I was laying out on the field, and I didn't just think my season was over. I thought my career was over. I just thought it was over. Everything."
Days later, when doctors told Davis his season was over but with hard work and rehabilitation, his career could be salvaged, what ordinarily might have been sadness was a time of celebration.
"When I found out it was just my season that was over, it was a big relief," said Davis, a 22-year-old redshirt senior from Live Oak. "I was just thanking God."
One year later, Davis has picked up where he left off. He has started all four games and led the team in tackles for loss twice. Against Mississippi State last week, Davis tied for a team-high six solo tackles.
"The big difference is that he provides a lot of leadership," defensive coordinator Jon Hoke said. "He has played a lot of football here. He's got a lot of experience, which really helps the maturity of the defense."
His return has his teammates thankful, too.
"Andra is back, and that's a big boost in momentum for our team," cornerback Lito Sheppard said.
"He's the heart and soul of (the defense)," junior free safety Todd Johnson said. "He's our leader. We look to him in times of need, and we look to him when we need something done or something accomplished.
"He's the one, along with Marquand (Manuel) and Alex (Brown), who will step up and be the leader of our defense."
Last year at this time, the defense was the weak link of the team and endured heavy criticism. Florida was entering its game against LSU coming off a loss to Mississippi State in which it gave up 351 rushing yards. This year, Florida enters Baton Rouge as the nation's sixth-best rushing defense and giving up just 236.8 yards of total offense per game, fifth in the nation. It also has allowed 7.5 points per game, fourth nationally.
Davis is a big part of that success.
"He's like the quarterback of the defense," defensive lineman Kennard Ellis said. "When he wasn't there last year, there was a void in the defense. But now he's back, and he's a leader for us."
Said Florida coach Steve Spurrier: "Andra is a good leader. He leads by example, which we need around here."
Sporting News listed Davis as one of the nation's top-four inside linebackers and one of seven candidates for the Butkus Award in its 2001 preview. Entering this season, Davis had 125 tackles, 3 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery and 3 sacks.
"He raises everyone else's level of play just because of his enthusiasm and his excitement for the game," sophomore defensive tackle Ian Scott said. "He's a guy you can't substitute for, and it has been a big boost for our defense just to have him on the field."
Davis has returned to form quickly, but it wasn't easy.
He spent countless hours in the training room and rehab center getting his knee back into shape. It was grueling physically then complicated by the misery of having to watch his teammates play on television, most often at home in Live Oak.
Now every time Davis takes the field, there is the memory of that night against Ball State in the back of his mind. It doesn't haunt him. Instead, it drives him. And it has helped make him who he is today, on and off the field.
"The injury changed me personally," Davis said. "It changed the way I look at life. I don't take anything for granted anymore. I just knew I was going to be out there playing with my teammates last year, and when I got hurt, it seemed like everything was taken away from me.
"I don't want to take anything else for granted ever again. I just thank God for the opportunities that I have every time I take the field."