Troy Davis ( gridiron football ) Troy Davis ( born September 14 , 1975 ) is a former American college and professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League ( NFL ) and Canadian Football League ( CFL ) . He played college football for Iowa State University , twice earned All - American honors , and was the first NCAA Division I - A running back to rush for over 2 , 000 yards in back - to - back seasons . He played professionally for the New Orleans Saints of the NFL , and the Hamilton Tiger - Cats , Edmonton Eskimos and Toronto Argonauts of the CFL , and was a member of the Eskimos ' Grey Cup championship team in 2005 . Early years . Davis was born in Miami , Florida . He attended Miami Southridge High School , where he was a standout high school football player for the Southridge Spartans . College career . Davis attended Iowa State University , and played for the Iowa State Cyclones football team from 1993 to 1996 . He set numerous Cyclone team records , including most career rushing yards ( 4 , 382 ) , total rushing yards in a single season ( 2 , 185 ) , rushing yards in a game ( 378 , vs . Missouri , rushing attempts in a game ( 53 , vs . then - Division I - AA Northern Iowa , most rushing touchdowns in a game ( 5 , vs . UNLV and vs . Northern Iowa ) , most 100 - yard rushing games in a season ( 11 ) and career ( 21 ) , most 200 - yard rushing games in a season ( 5 ) and career ( 9 ) , and most consecutive 100 - yard rushing games ( 17 , during 1995 and 1996 seasons ) , and most consecutive games scoring a touchdown ( 10 , during 1995 and 1996 seasons ) . He also holds the Iowa State Cyclones football record for most career rushing touchdowns ( 36 ) and is tied for first for most career total touchdowns ( 38 ) . He became the first running back in NCAA Division I - A ( now Football Bowl Subdivision ) history to gain 2 , 000 yards in two different seasons . During his 3 seasons at ISU , the Cyclones finished last in the Big Eight standings in his sophomore and junior seasons and last in the Big 12 North division standings . Davis played for head coaches Jim Walden and for the final two years of his ISU career , Dan McCarney . In 1996 , Davis was selected as the Big 12 Conference Player of the Year . He was recognized as a consensus first - team All - American at running back in 1995 and 1996 . He was inducted into the Iowa State Sports Hall of Fame in 2007 . Davis finished fifth out of six finalists for the Heisman Trophy in 1995 , and narrowly finished second to winner Danny Wuerffel in 1996 . In 1996 , Davis won three Heisman regions , but lost badly in the South region . He was nosed out for the 1996 Doak Walker Award by another Big 12 running back , Byron Hanspard of Texas Tech . In both cases , he was largely hampered by the fact that he played on a losing team . Professional career . Davis elected to forgo his senior season of eligibility and declared for the 1997 NFL Draft . He was drafted in the 3rd round ( 62nd overall ) by the New Orleans Saints . He played in the NFL for three years before joining the Hamilton Tiger - Cats of the Canadian Football League . In 2004 , he led the CFL with 1628 rushing yards . He also set the Tiger Cats record for both rushing yards with 1628 and yards from scrimmage with 1878 . During the 2005 CFL season , Davis was traded to the Edmonton Eskimos in exchange for a package headlined by wide receiver Brock Ralph , defensive back Tay Cody , and a first - round pick in that year ' s draft . Davis played a key role in helping the Eskimos win the 93rd Grey Cup that year . On February 23 , 2007 , the Eskimos released Davis . He was later signed to the Toronto Argonauts ' practice roster on September 25 , 2007 . Davis was initially released by the Argonauts on October 17 , 2007 , but rejoined their practice roster on October 23 , 2007 . Personal life . Davis is the brother of Darren Davis , who played running back at Iowa State beginning in Troy ' s final season until 1999 . Darren ran for over 1 , 000 yards in three consecutive seasons before ending his career second in career rushing yards behind his older brother .