How Clemson football stars CJ Spiller and James Davis reunited on Dabo Swinney's staff

CLEMSON – The newest face we’ll see around Clemson football practice this fall also happens to be one of the most familiar in program history.

James Davis, whose ear-to-ear grin was as recognizable as his slashing running style, is a fixture on campus once again, having joined Dabo Swinney’s coaching staff as a volunteer assistant.

Davis’ addition reunites him with C.J. Spiller, his former backfield mate with the Tigers who is preparing to enter his second season as Clemson’s running backs coach and eager to welcome his longtime friend. Davis most recently worked as an athletic director for a youth program in the Atlanta area.

“He’s going to be another great set of eyes,” Spiller said. “This is a guy who’s a Top 3 rusher all-time here at Clemson so it’s not just anybody – this guy’s got some weight.”

No question there.

Davis is indeed the No. 3 all-time leading rusher at Clemson with 3,881 yards, ranking just ahead of Spiller, who’s No. 4 on that list.

Davis, who starred for the Tigers from 2005-08, made 43 career starts, which remains the program standard among running backs, and ranks second with 47 rushing touchdowns.

Spiller and Davis have been inextricably linked since Davis hosted Spiller on his recruiting visit to Clemson in 2006.

It was a classic case of country boy meets city guy, but something clicked.

“He grew up in the big city of Atlanta and I’m from a country town – Lake Butler, Florida,” Spiller said. “We were two totally different personalities. He was more boisterous, I was more reserved, laid back. But we kind of meshed.”

Enticed by Clemson’s small-town atmosphere and the opportunity to join Davis in the Tigers’ backfield, Spiller chose Clemson in a signing-day upset that altered the fortunes of Clemson football and helped establish Swinney as a top recruiter.

Together Davis and Spiller became the Tigers’ “Thunder and Lightning” backfield – Clemson’s version of the Army’s legendary tandem of Doc Blanchard (Mr. Inside) and Glenn Davis (Mr. Outside) or SMU’s “Pony Express” duo of Eric Dickerson and Craig James, if you will.

In three seasons as teammates, Davis and Spiller combined for more than 5,300 yards rushing and 58 rushing touchdowns.

This season they’ll team up to tutor another 1-2 punch in the backfield with Will Shipley and Phil Mafah returning for promising junior seasons.

Spiller is pumped up about having his former teammate back on campus to help coach the talented twosome, but is even more excited that Davis is renewing his academic career in the process.

“Out of the four guys that were here – me, James, Andre Ellington and Jamie Harper – three of us have our degrees,” Spiller said.

Davis is the lone holdout, so Spiller has been on him for years to return to school and finish the requirements for his degree.

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He’s doing just that, courtesy of the Tiger Trust program, which enables athletes who left school early to pursue a pro career to return to school. Tuition, fees and books are covered, as are housing and meals if they reside on campus.

In the meantime, Spiller has been giving Davis a crash course on navigating the football facilities, most of which were mere pipe dreams when Davis played.

“He’s still trying to figure this building out,” Spiller said of the sprawling, state-of-the-art Reeves Football Complex. “He’s still trying to figure out what door to walk through and all that.

“I’m excited about having him and he’s excited about being back. We’re just grateful to have him in here to finish what he started. I’m more excited about him finishing and getting his degree than anything else.”

Count on the country boy being the first one there to hug him the city guy when he finally gets to stroll across the stage and flip his tassel.

Scott Keepfer covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at skeepfer@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @ScottKeepfer

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Clemson football: CJ Spiller, James Davis reunite on Dabo Swinney staff