Yonus Davis
Encyclopedia
Yonus Davis is a running back
and kick returner
formerly for the BC Lions
of the Canadian Football League
. A native of Oakland, California
, he played college football
in San Jose State University
and signed as a free agent to the BC Lions
in 2010.
, Davis attended Skyline High School
. His first name "Yonus" means "Greek king". In 2002, the San Francisco Chronicle
selected Davis as "Player of the Year" for Alameda County
. Cal-Hi Sports named Davis a second-team all-state selection. During his junior season, Davis returned four punts and two kickoffs for two touchdowns. As a senior, Davis rushed for 1,208 yards and 16 touchdowns, intercepted four passes, and returned two punts and two kickoffs.
Davis played for the San Jose State Spartans
from 2003 to 2008 and redshirted the 2004 season after playing two games. Rushing 1,007 yards on 163 carries in 2006, Davis became the first Spartan since 2000 to rush more than 1,000 yards in one season. He also became the first Spartan running back to average more than 6.0 yards per carry in consecutive seasons. In 2008, Davis played as a fifth-year senior due to a hardship exemption.
with the Lions on January 20, 2010. He debuted with the Lions on July 30 in a game against the Edmonton Eskimos
with an 88-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. In a 37-13 loss on August 12 to the Saskatchewan Roughriders
, Davis scored the only touchdown for BC on a 51-yard rush, had 84 rushing yards on three carries overall, and returned five kickoffs for 133 yards. Because of this, Mike Beamish of The Vancouver Sun wrote that Davis "could be the Lions' most exciting runner/returner since Stefan Logan
." On September 25, Davis returned punts for 244 yards in a 29-10 victory over the Calgary Stampede
, and the CFL named Davis special teams player of the week.
Davis had another 88-yard touchdown from a punt return in the October 31 game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders
.
On April 9, 2011, Davis was arrested in California after 27 kilograms (59.5 lbs) of ecstasy was delivered to a home he was renting. He was charged with one felony count of attempting to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute. Davis was released upon posting US$150,000 bail. As of May 3, 2011, his case has not gone to court.
On May 3, 2011, the Lions announced they had terminated Davis' contract as a result of the charges. "We are not passing judgment on anybody," Lions General Manager Wally Buono
told a news conference at the team's training facility. "But obviously the association and the implication is not something we as an organization, as a league, that we want to be involved with. We are severing ties for that reason."
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
and kick returner
Kick returner
In American and Canadian football, a kick returner is the player on special teams who is primarily responsible to catch kickoffs and attempts to return them in the opposite direction. If the ball is kicked into his own endzone, he must assess the situation on the field while the ball is in the...
formerly for the BC Lions
BC Lions
The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954...
of the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
. A native of Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
, he played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
in San Jose State University
San José State Spartans Football
The San Jose State Spartans represent San Jose State University and the Silicon Valley in NCAA Division I FBS college football. The Spartans play all home games in Spartan Stadium, which offers a seating capacity of over 30,000...
and signed as a free agent to the BC Lions
BC Lions
The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954...
in 2010.
High school and college
Born in Oakland, CaliforniaOakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
, Davis attended Skyline High School
Skyline High School (Oakland, California)
Skyline High School is a public high school in Oakland, California. It is noted for its strong academics and athletic programs, and consistently ranks as the top performing school in the area in terms of standardized testing, SAT scores, college acceptance rates, and matriculation...
. His first name "Yonus" means "Greek king". In 2002, the San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle
thumb|right|upright|The Chronicle Building following the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake|1906 earthquake]] and fireThe San Francisco Chronicle is a newspaper serving primarily the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, but distributed throughout Northern and Central California,...
selected Davis as "Player of the Year" for Alameda County
Alameda County, California
Alameda County is a county in the U.S. state of California. It occupies most of the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 1,510,271, making it the 7th most populous county in the state...
. Cal-Hi Sports named Davis a second-team all-state selection. During his junior season, Davis returned four punts and two kickoffs for two touchdowns. As a senior, Davis rushed for 1,208 yards and 16 touchdowns, intercepted four passes, and returned two punts and two kickoffs.
Davis played for the San Jose State Spartans
San José State Spartans Football
The San Jose State Spartans represent San Jose State University and the Silicon Valley in NCAA Division I FBS college football. The Spartans play all home games in Spartan Stadium, which offers a seating capacity of over 30,000...
from 2003 to 2008 and redshirted the 2004 season after playing two games. Rushing 1,007 yards on 163 carries in 2006, Davis became the first Spartan since 2000 to rush more than 1,000 yards in one season. He also became the first Spartan running back to average more than 6.0 yards per carry in consecutive seasons. In 2008, Davis played as a fifth-year senior due to a hardship exemption.
BC Lions
After taking the 2009 season off, Davis signed as a free agentFree agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
with the Lions on January 20, 2010. He debuted with the Lions on July 30 in a game against the Edmonton Eskimos
Edmonton Eskimos
The Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895...
with an 88-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. In a 37-13 loss on August 12 to the Saskatchewan Roughriders
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
, Davis scored the only touchdown for BC on a 51-yard rush, had 84 rushing yards on three carries overall, and returned five kickoffs for 133 yards. Because of this, Mike Beamish of The Vancouver Sun wrote that Davis "could be the Lions' most exciting runner/returner since Stefan Logan
Stefan Logan
Stefan Logan is a wide receiver, running back and return specialist for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He was signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2007...
." On September 25, Davis returned punts for 244 yards in a 29-10 victory over the Calgary Stampede
Calgary Stampede
The Calgary Stampede is an annual rodeo, exhibition and festival held every July in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The ten-day event, which bills itself as "The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth", attracts over one million visitors per year and features one of the world's largest rodeos, a parade, midway,...
, and the CFL named Davis special teams player of the week.
Davis had another 88-yard touchdown from a punt return in the October 31 game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
.
On April 9, 2011, Davis was arrested in California after 27 kilograms (59.5 lbs) of ecstasy was delivered to a home he was renting. He was charged with one felony count of attempting to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute. Davis was released upon posting US$150,000 bail. As of May 3, 2011, his case has not gone to court.
On May 3, 2011, the Lions announced they had terminated Davis' contract as a result of the charges. "We are not passing judgment on anybody," Lions General Manager Wally Buono
Wally Buono
Pasquale "Wally" Buono is the head coach, general manager and alternate governor of the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League, and one of the most successful coaches in league history. He is in his 19th year of coaching, previously as head coach of the Calgary Stampeders and currently with the...
told a news conference at the team's training facility. "But obviously the association and the implication is not something we as an organization, as a league, that we want to be involved with. We are severing ties for that reason."