While that is certainly good news for Davis, the reason he’s starting is less than positive. The youngster is starting because sophomore defensive tackle Mick Stoltenberg is going to miss the game entirely.
While coaches won’t say exactly what happened to Stoltenberg, they are saying it was a non-contact football injury to the knee. This is never something you want to hear, because it can mean anything from a sprain to ligament tear.
The coaches are also trying to tamp down any fears Stoltenberg is going to be missing significant time, saying they expect the sophomore to be ready to go the following week against Oregon.