Senior running back A.J. Davis, who was celebrated as a coveted four-star recruit when he signed with Pitt in 2017, has entered the NCAA transfer portal.
Davis appeared in only three of the Pitt’s seven games this season, recording two carries for 21 yards, including an 18-yard touchdown run against UMass in his only start of the season.
Yet, his signing was considered a recruiting victory for Pitt after he chose the Panthers over more than 25 Power 5 scholarship offers. He received national television exposure when he picked a Pitt baseball cap over North Carolina and Louisville on an ESPN Signing Day telecast.
2017 4-star RB Anthony Davis has entered the portal as a grad transfer after rushing for 991 yards and 7 TD during his Pittsburgh career; also had 41 rec for 354 yards @rivalsmike @PantherLair https://t.co/nHfYs3sux0
— NCAA Transfer Portal (@RivalsPortal) October 26, 2021
He played sparingly as a freshman — 16 carries, 40 yards — but he developed into Pitt’s best running back in 2019 when he led the Panthers in rushing, with 127 carries for 530 yards and four touchdowns. That season, he recorded the only 100-yard game of his career (103 at Syracuse). He also caught seven passes for 94 yards at Penn State.
By the 2020 season, Pitt had turned to younger backs Izzy Abanikanda and Vincent Davis, and their development this season pushed Davis further down the depth chart. When Abanikanda suffered a concussion Saturday in the Clemson game, freshman Rodney Hammond Jr. got the call in the fourth quarter and led Pitt with 66 yards rushing.
Davis started only 10 games in four seasons, but at times he was a valuable component in the offense. He finished his career with 991 yards and seven touchdowns, plus 41 receptions for 354 yards.
Because he has appeared in only three games, he can use this season as a redshirt year and have one year of eligibility remaining.
