SIU running back, D.J. Davis, on national watch list

CARBONDALE - Southern Illinois University running back D.J. Davis is one of 40 players on the 2019 preseason watch list for the College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) FCS National Performer of the Year Trophy.

A versatile 5-foot-8 senior from Pompano Beach, Florida, Davis led the Missouri Valley Football Conference last season and ranked 14th in the nation in all-purpose yards per game with 140.3. He rushed for 1,118 yards in 2018 - the most by a Saluki running back since Jewel Hampton in 2011 - and averaged 6.28 yards per carry.

Davis recorded six 100-yard rushing games, including a career-best 201 yards versus South Dakota State.

Davis is one of seven MVFC players on the watch list, joining Illinois State's Brady Davis (QB) and James Robinson (RB), Indiana State's Ryan Boyle (QB), South Dakota's Austin Simmons (QB), and South Dakota State's Cade Johnson (WR) and Pierre Strong, Jr. (RB)

The trophy is a 22-inch K-9 optic crystal tower with eight-inch crystal football on top. All FCS players are eligible for the award.

The winner will be announced Jan. 15, 2020.