Cyclone running back Darren Davis spun, juked, and drove his way to big numbers last season despite being hampered by nagging injuries. So far this year, the only thing slowing Davis down is Iowa’s fickle spring weather.

“When the weather’s like this, you don’t want spring ball to start,” Davis joked at a recent cold, soggy practice.

Davis, who is from Miami, Fla., says he will never get used to cold weather. But unfortunately for many of ISU’s opponents, it’s probably going to take more than the game-day wind chill to shut him down come fall.

In 1997, Davis totaled 1,005 yards rushing in 212 attempts (including five touchdowns) despite the fact he missed the equivalent of 3 1/2 games. He was only the ninth player in ISU football history to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season.

In addition, he also handled the pigskin as a receiver, catching 16 passes for 130 yards. His 111.7 yard rushing average per game ranked 15th nationally and his 126.1 all-purpose yards per game ranked fifth in the Big 12.

Those are impressive numbers for someone who played just 68 percent of the season.

Davis’ 1997 troubles began in fall practice when he fought a sore hamstring. Then, after leading ISU with 51 yards rushing in the season-opener against Oklahoma State, he missed the entire Wyoming and Minnesota games and carried the ball only once against Iowa due to a stress fracture in his right leg. Later in the fall, he missed almost the entire second half against Colorado with a bruised thigh.

But it was what Davis did during the middle portion of the season that proved his true potential.

After gaining over 100 yards against Missouri and Texas A&M in early October, he exploded with 247 yards against Baylor on Oct. 25 and 261 at Kansas on Nov. 1.

The performances were the fifth-and seventh-best single-game rushing totals in Cyclone history. Only his brother Troy has ever had a higher consecutive-game rushing total in university history.

Before Davis’ return from injury, the Cyclones had averaged only 61.5 yards rushing per game, but that figure jumped to 128 over the remainder of the season in which he participated.

“I feel very good. I just stretch a lot and drink a lot of water,” Davis said about his health this spring. “I’ve been having a few good days of spring ball and hopefully I can stay healthy the whole spring.”

Davis said he is entering his junior season with a positive mindset and he likes what he sees in many of his teammates.

“A lot more guys are stepping it up, and hopefully we have a bunch more leaders (this year),” he said.

Late last season, Davis created quite a stir when a comment he made was interpreted as a criticism of his teammates’ dedication and work ethic.

“A couple of guys asked me what I was saying. I didn’t mean it the way it came out in the paper,” he said.

Davis explained what his intended message was: “Hopefully guys come out here and do the things I do and hopefully they look up to me and (think), ‘If he’s working hard, I should go out and work hard too.'”

He said that many players have worked hard since last season and have gotten stronger.

“I don’t know if they listened to what I said, but I hope they did, and I hope they get much better,” he said.

Davis and his offensive teammates enter this season under the guidance of new offensive coordinator and offensive line Coach Pete Hoener. Hoener replaces Steve Loney, who recently took a similar position with at Minnesota.

“He’s changed a lot around,” Davis said. “(He’s changed) the attitudes of everybody out here and a few plays. Hopefully, he can get things going around here.”

Davis also said that the new offensive linemen, some who are currently filling in for injured starters, are doing well and “are opening up a lot of holes for us.”

Darren Davis is healthy again. And coaches, players and fans alike know that his field presence will be sorely needed if ISU’s football fortunes are to turn around.

“He’s looked sensational so far this spring,” Head Coach Dan McCarney said.”He doesn’t look like he’s showing any leftover problems from the fall, and I just couldn’t be happier with Darren.”