Darren Davis, entering his fourth and final season at Iowa State, reflects on his years at ISU, what football has meant to him, and the individual accomplishments he’s picked up since coming here. Davis also looks back at his time with brother Troy, former Cyclone and current NFL tailback. Finally, he looks to the future of ISU football with younger brother Jason and his own hopes for a career in the NFL.

Iowa State Daily: Describe, first of all, your outlook on the season. How is this team going to perform?

Darren Davis: In our first game, we made a few mistakes, but that’s what practice is for — to clean that stuff up. Hopefully, we should have a good season this year.

ISD: A lot of people talk about a sense of excitement surrounding the Cyclones this year. What excites you about this team?

DD: The players on the team. When you come in and work with the guys that I get to work with, it’s great. Plus, with the coaches we have, when we go out to practice, we really get after it. I most enjoy coming out here everyday and being with the fellas and the coaches.

ISD: You’re already all over the ISU record books, and this year you have the opportunity to reach a couple more milestones. What do the individual records mean to you?

DD: They mean a lot, but the most important thing is getting wins. I know that if the team gets the wins, the individual records will all fall into place.

ISD: Talk a little about your relationship with Troy. Have you enjoyed following in his footsteps, so to speak?

DD: Ever since we were young — six, seven years old — we’ve been really close. We went everywhere together, and we’ve grown even closer as we’ve gotten older. I talk to him about every other day. We get on the phone and he asks me how I’m doing or how practice is going. We even still talk about some of the high school records. It always puts a smile on my face to hear him on the phone.

ISD: How special would it be to pick up that last 1000-yard season — to complete a record that no one else at ISU, including Troy, was ever able to get?

DD: It would be very special to me — 1000 yards in three seasons would be great. The thing is, it’s going to take a lot of effort from the guys up front and even from the defense. I’m going to need some help to get there.

ISD: You’ve finally seemed to really emerge from Troy’s shadow over the last several years. Is it important to you to leave your own, unique legacy here at ISU?

DD: I think so. We’re very different people. He does his thing, I do mine. What I’d really like to do is make my own shadow for Jason to follow in when he gets here. I’ve been working hard for four years now, so I think I’ve stepped out of Troy’s shadow, and now it’s time for me to leave something for Jason.

ISD: Speaking of Jason, is it exciting for you to know that there’s going to be another Davis here when you leave? That Jason will be here trying to live up to the standards that you set?

DD: I just wish I could have gotten him up here this year. None of us have ever been able to play with Jason before. Troy and I have played together a lot, but he’s never had that opportunity, so I’m just sorry this didn’t work out. It would have been exciting for us. I’ll just have to leave him some of my individual goals to accomplish and hope he can do that.

ISD: Now that you’ve been here for three years and suffered through several tough seasons, are there any regrets at this point?

DD: Not at all. I’ve enjoyed my years up here, and I love the people. My relationships with players and coaches are all great. I wouldn’t trade it.

ISD: Obviously, you were recruited outside of Iowa State — you could’ve gone to any number of schools. There isn’t a part of you that wishes you had gone somewhere else?

DD: Nah. It all started with Troy. He wanted me to come out here and play two years of football with him. Now four years later, I’m glad I came.

ISD: When this season and this year are over, where do you go from here? What are your plans after football and Iowa State?

DD: Hopefully, I’ll get a chance at the next level. If I don’t, I’m working on a degree in child human development. I can definitely fall back on that if things don’t go right in the NFL.

ISD: Heading into this weekend, you’re facing Iowa for the fourth time. How special would it be for you to even the series against them?

DD: Every game is special, but this is such a big rival. We’re preparing well, and hopefully we can go out, do some good things and get this victory.

ISD: A lot of fans are optimistic that you guys can open the season 3-0, but a lot of that optimism fades when people start talking about the Big 12. Is this team going to surprise some people?

DD: Oh yeah. We’ve worked so hard all through last winter and this summer. I’m in my fourth year now, and the guys look better than ever. I hope that this season, especially being my last one, can be the most special.