More on Torrey

The Star reported in its Tuesday edition that JSU junior defensive lineman Torrey Davis is filing paperwork to enter the NFL Draft, forgoing his final year of eligibility.

"A lot of stuff" when into the decision, he said, among them the desire to provide for his family. The deadline for entering the draft is Friday.

"I have a son (Torrey Jr.) who is going to be 2 in June and I just want to be able to provide for him without having to come to other people," he said. "It’s hard where I’m at right now. There’s a recession going on and I’m feeling the effect of it really strong. I don’t see why I should stay in Jacksonville or somewhere when I don’t really have to. When I got the chance to leave I was going to do that. That was pretty much it."

The NFL draft advisory board — which advises underclassmen of their draft potential — told Davis that going in the fifth round or later was "possible." Many think the 6-3, 290-pound Florida transfer will have to go the free agent route — or to the CFL or Arena League to fulfill his pro dream.

Davis is famously known for making back-to-back stops on a goal-line stand in the first half of Florida’s 2008 BCS National Championship game victory against Oklahoma, then transferred to JSU in May with the potential to be the best the Gamecocks ever had at his position. He was credited with 16 tackles, three sacks and a fumble recovery, and made the Ohio Valley Conference’s All-Newcomer Team.

"I’m not saying I'm good enough to go first round ... but if somebody will give me a chance, playing football is something I can do," he said. "Give me a chance to put on some cleats, shoulder pads and helmet and I’ll show you. Maybe film won’t be that strong, but I feel like I can come on a team and compete. I can bring my talent to the table. Hard work, that’s all I did while I was at Jacksonville State."

Given all the circumstances of Davis' life, Jeff Parker, a JSU business professor and former CEO who independently counseled several of the Gamecocks’ higher profile transfers, advised the player to come out. Parker stepped back after Davis signed with an agent, Bus Cook.

"He’s very confident he’s going to the League, but I’m not, based on my contacts," Parker said. "Regardless, if he makes $60,000-$150,000 next year, I don’t see how anybody can fault him because he’s sitting in a place he doesn’t want to be in, in an academic setting he doesn’t want to be in.

"I think the young man made the right decision regardless what anybody is going to think. It was in his best personal interest."