COLUMBIA – Todd Gurley and Mike Davis met and became friends innocently enough when the two were being recruited out of high school.
Now they are about as close as possible for athletes playing the same position at rival schools.
"We communicate here and there," said Davis. "He actually came up here, came to my house. We chilled and talked. We're real good friends."
It happened during an unofficial visit to Clemson. The duo, along with Gurley's teammate and Georgia running back Keith Marshall, kept in touch after the visit.
The trio exchanged recruiting notes after that. Davis committed to Florida. Gurley and Marshall opted for Georgia.
Davis later de-committed from the Gators and, after a brief flirtation, signed with the Gamecocks.
The two have kept in contact, which hasn't stopped this week just because their teams will be in combat.
"He is a friend and a great running back," Gurley said of Davis at SEC Media Days. "I want him to play great every week. Even when he's playing against us, I want him to play great."
"There is no competition between me and him," said Davis. "We both want to see each other do good. He's over there rooting for me. I'm rooting for him. We just hope we do good.
"There is no trash talk between me and Gurley."
When the nationally sixth ranked Bulldogs come to Williams-Brice Stadium to battle 24th ranked USC the duo enter as two of best running backs in the Southeastern Conference and the country.
Gurley put himself at the head of the Heisman Trophy pack after rushing for 198 yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries against Clemson. He also returned a kickoff for a score.
The season has started more slowly for Davis. Limited by several minor injuries during the fall, he rushed for 15 yards on six carries before leaving the Gamecocks opener against Texas A&M with bruised ribs at halftime.
He rebounded nicely against East Carolina, rushing for 101 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries.
Today he is fighting to place his name in the conversation with Gurley as one of the nation's top backs.
"It felt good to be back out there, just having fun with my teammates," Davis said of his performance against the Pirates. "I love those guys to death. I'd do anything for those guys, even lay my body on the line for them."
Although South Carolina lost its 2013 encounter against the Bulldogs in Athens, Davis out-gained his friend picking up 149 rushing yards and a touchdown on 16 carries.
"(Stopping Davis) is definitely going to be a challenge," said Georgia nose tackle Mike Thornton. "South Carolina has a big offensive line, they've got big backs and they like to run the ball. That's what we're going to focus on, just attacking our blocks, getting off blocks and making plays."
The Gamecocks have also taken note of Gurley who has proven capable of not only running inside, but outside.
"I guess he only had about 15 carries, which he could have had 25 or 30," USC coach Steve Spurrier said of Gurley. "Obviously, statistically right now, I think he's averaging 15 yards a carry, something like that…He's probably the leading Heisman candidate right now."
Davis was frustrated when what could have been a record setting sophomore season ended with him limping to the finish line due to injuries.
Although Davis rushed for 1,183 yards and 11 touchdowns, it appeared the season would have ended with more flashy numbers.
Davis felt the same disappointment after being forced to leave the A&M game at halftime with injury.
"It's frustrating when you can't come out (after) halftime and drive on the field," said Davis. "It frustrating going out there, watching my guys and not being out there with them."
Georgia defensive end Josh Dawson, who competed against Davis in high school, understands the task facing the Bulldogs.
"He's a big factor for their team," said Dawson. "We've got to play our keys and do a good job. It's always good seeing him but it's a war when we get on the field."
The Gamecocks, who had tackling challenges in their two openers, understand it will take their best effort to limit Gurley and the other talented runners in the Georgia backfield.
"We've watched a whole lot of film, more film than I've watched since I've been here," said USC safety T. J. Gurley. "He's a great back. He's fast. I think he is more of a downhill runner. We've just got to come up fast and lay a hat on him, hit him hard.
"He really isn't going to try to make a lot of moves from what I see. He wants you to be scared of him, don't want to tackle him. But I think we are going to have a lot of hats around him."
