Troy Davis to be inducted to 2016 College Hall of Fame

Troy Davis played for Iowa State from 1994-96. During his ISU career, Davis rushed for 2,000 yards in back-to-back seasons, becoming the first collegiate player to do so. He was also a finalist for the Heisman Trophy two times.

Luke Manderfeld

Former ISU running back Troy Davis will be inducted into the College Hall of Fame in 2016, Iowa State announced Friday. He will be one of the 16 players and coaches to enter this year. 

Davis is still the only running back in FBS history to run for more than 2,000 yards in two seasons. He was also the only Cyclone to be a two-time, consensus first team All-American and was invited to two Heisman Trophy ceremonies. 

“This was one of my goals when I first came to Iowa State,” Davis said in a statement. “Twenty years later and I made it. This is a true blessing and I want to thank God and everybody in Ames, Iowa, who kept pushing me. I didn’t win the Heisman, but I made the College Football Hall of Fame.”

In 1996, Davis had one of the best seasons for a college running back in history. He rushed for more than 130 yards in all 11 games and finished with 2,185 yards, the third-most yards in 11 games in NCAA history. 

“As we worked to lay our foundation for future success, there was no chance we could have done it without Troy Davis,” McCarney said in a statement. “He brought respect and honor to our program. He is so special. I have been around a lot of great teams and I have still never seen another player like Troy Davis.”

Davis left for the NFL Draft in 1997 before his senior season at Iowa State and was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the third round. 

Davis will join Ed Bock, a guard who played in the 1930s, as the only ISU football players in the College Football Hall of Fame.