LSU wide receiver Craig “Buster” Davis did not believe his coaches when they asked him three weeks ago to add a new wrinkle to his game. “When I first began returning [punts], it was a shock,” Davis said. “I thought they were joking with me, telling me to get back there.” But he was wrong. One of the Tigers’ most glaring weaknesses so far in 2006 has been their need for an effective punt returner in the post-Skyler Green era of LSU football. During his four seasons at LSU, Green set an LSU record for most punt returns for touchdowns with four. He also ranks second in LSU history with 1,064 punt return yards to his credit – coming up 63 yards short of former LSU running back Domanick Davis’ record. The LSU coaching staff gave junior defensive back Chevis Jackson a shot at returning punts, but the results have not been rewarding. Jackson has returned 15 punts this season and has averaged 6.7 yards per return, which ranked No. 57 in the nation. He also has one critical muff against the University of Florida hanging over his head. “It wouldn’t matter,” Jackson said when asked about his preference on returning punts again this season. Trying to fill the punt-return void, LSU has turned to Davis. The New Orleans native made his punt-returning debut Saturday against the University of Kentucky and made his presence felt immediately. He returned three punts against the Wildcats for a total of 31 yards. “It is interesting how a guy who never returned a punt in his high school career comes to college and really learns that ability while catching balls thrown by the quarterback,” LSU coach Les Miles said. Though he may have looked comfortable in that position, Davis said he definitely had a few butterflies in his stomach during the Kentucky game. “I was very nervous going out,” Davis said. “I just wanted to make sure I caught the ball – not just thinking about running.” Miles said fans could see other players returning punts throughout the season, but he has confidence in Davis’ newfound ability. “To me he has all the ball skills that you need to have a good return man,” Miles said. “Buster [Davis] has given us a nice lift there.” Jackson agreed that Davis did well in his first game, saying the team needs to continue to count on Davis if that is the best scenario. “If we’re doing good on special teams, and Buster is doing good, I don’t have to return a punt for the rest of the time I’m here,” Jackson said. “I think Buster is the right guy back there right now.” Davis said he has a renewed respect for return specialists like Green, who is currently the Dallas Cowboys’ punt returner, because learning to be a punt returner is not an overnight transformation. “The guy is bearing down on you, and the ball is 50 feet in the ai,” Davis said. “You have to catch it and dodge a bullet at the same time.” But Davis said regardless of how difficult the change was, he had no choice but to lend his talents wherever they are needed. “As time progressed…I knew I had to get back there because we weren’t too good at that position,” Davis said. Miles said he needs players like Davis to respond positively when called on to help the team succeed. “We as a team, when we call on you, you have to go in there and perform,” Miles said. “It is that simple.”
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