Southern Miss loses quarterback Austin Davis for rest of the season to foot injury

Southern Miss loses QB Austin Davis for season

JACKSON, Miss. — Southern Miss quarterback Austin Davis will miss the rest of the season after tearing a ligament in his left foot against UAB.

It was originally thought Davis hurt his foot or ankle when he went down early in the fourth quarter of the 30-17 loss Thursday night. But after he experienced pain in the mid-foot area Friday an MRI showed the redshirt sophomore tore a ligament.

Redshirt junior Martevious Young will get the start Saturday against Louisville.

“It really won’t change what we try to do,” coach Larry Fedora said. “Martevious has been preparing every week. He has known he’s just an ankle away from being the starting guy. He’ll give up some experience, but he’s prepared and he’ll be ready to go.”

Fedora said he was disappointed for Davis, and with good reason. The Meridian, Miss., native was putting together another productive season after rewriting most of the school’s passing marks for freshmen. He had started 18 straight games for the Golden Eagles and is a team captain.

The former walk-on guides one of the nation’s most potent offenses. Southern Miss is No. 28 in the nation with 419.8 yards per game. Davis threw for 1,165 yards and 10 touchdowns before the injury.

He already ranks fifth on the school’s career records list for yards passing (4,658 yards), touchdown passes (33) and 200-yard games (13) and has completed 60.5 percent of his passes with just 10 interceptions.

Young should get some help this week in the return of offensive stars, running back Damion Fletcher (groin) and receiver DeAndre Brown (shoulder). Neither made the trip to Birmingham.

“We expect to get them both back,” Fedora said.