Ex-NFL & College Football Athlete Returns to University & Graduates at 32, as Tributes Pour

In sports, age is an important number that dictates one’s career. There’s a prime window that has to be utilized to the best, which is why a lot of college athletes put a pause on everything else in life. They dedicate a long time to their pro career, before tapping out when they can no longer go on. But that doesn’t mean college athletes can’t get back on with their lives. A 32-year-old former NFL player did just that.

32 is an age you will find in colleges, but usually as staff or in other authoritative positions. But Mike Davis, who spent eight seasons in the NFL, was determined to complete an unfinished task. The star RB left for the league after just three seasons with the Gamecocks, and made it at the 4th round as the 126th pick in the 2015 draft. After nearly 10 years, Davis returned to complete his unfinished degree.

The RB was among the 107 student-athletes who graduated from South Carolina this weekend. Davis became the Gamecocks’ most important RBs, after Marcus Lattimore went pro. He had a stellar season in 2013, running for 1,183 yards, 11 TDs, and making second-team All-Southeastern honors. He dipped a little in numbers the next season, producing only 982 yards. Davis, now a graduate, made use of a key program of the administration.

Congratulations to former NFL RB & Gamecock Mike Davis for coming back and graduating from USC!

||@MikeDavisRB pic.twitter.com/WsTT5fMtVI

— Famously Garnet Sports (@FamouslyGarnet) May 10, 2025

The RB had quite a career in the NFL. He has played for a slew of teams, including the 49ers, Seahawks, and Panthers, ending his career with the Baltimore Ravens. His best season came in 2020 with Carolina, where he ran for 642 yards and scored 6 touchdowns. He was one among a slew of other veteran names graduating this weekend, with some preceding his tenure in the program. Davis was also joined by Tre Kelly and John Abraham. As the RB resumes his normal life, fans send nods of congratulations his way.

Fans Shower Mike Davis With Encouragement for His Academic Achievement

Many college athletes, after their careers, decide to take a shot at other arenas in life. “Congratulations to Mike and the other former athletes who came back and graduated!” wrote one optimistic fan. South Carolina has a program in place that allows players like Davis to come back and complete their degrees, even if a long time has passed since they were last in college. “Congratulations Mike!” wrote another one.

Another fan wanted some more fanfare around the event. “All the Jersey kids walking with him have no idea who they are walking with and [I] hate that,” they wrote, accompanied by a GIF that read “Dawg!!!” Davis had to wait quite a while before showing the football community what he could do, as he remained in the depth chart behind Marcus Lattimore. He also said that he was tempted to transfer to another school if Lattimore had not departed at that time. Davis became one of five Gamecocks RBs to tally more than 1000 yards and 10 touchdowns in a single season.

“Money Mike Davis ,” another fan wrote, excited for the former RB’s future. We’re all waiting to see what the ex-NFLer does with his life, which still has a lot left to be done. Age is always just a number, and Davis can make himself useful in so many great ways. A lot of other NFL players also decided to complete their degrees while they were away, like Panthers LB Thomas Davis, who received his degree six years after he went pro.

Mike Davis is one of those players who are setting the precedent for athletes to complete their paused education. According to the NFL Players’ Association, about 50% of athletes have a degree. There’s always time to do more, but a degree gets things done so much easier in today’s environment. On one hand, there’s the current 2025 Gamecocks team, while on the other, veterans like Davis return home. We’ll await whatever decision Davis takes in this new chapter in life, now that he has a college education in hand.

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