Jabari Davis is patient.

The junior backup tailback has waited two years watching other backs claim the starting role.

His freshman year it was Travis Stephens, who through his own patience became the Vols single season rushing leader.

The past two seasons it has been Cedric Houston, who going into the Florida game was the nation’s third leading rusher.

Then in the third quarter Davis didn’t have to be patient anymore – Houston didn’t get up after the Tennessee offense’s third play of the second half.

Vol head coach Phillip Fulmer just told Davis to do what he does best.

“He told me just to pick it up – just run hard,” Davis said.

And he did.

The Georgia native ran over a reeling Gator defense and proved to be the boost the Vols’ running game needed to win for the second consecutive time in the Swamp.

Davis punished Florida’s defense for 78 yards on 20 carries and two touchdowns -finishing as the game’s leading rusher – and was awarded SEC Offensive Player of the Week honors for his efforts.

Before Houston’s final run against the Gators, the Vols’ leading rusher had been Mark Jones – a wide receiver.

Davis said the experience was worth the wait.

“It feels real good,” Davis said. “Just watching all the other running backs that have games like that, you wanna focus on what you wanna do – just run the ball hard.”

Even watching from the sidelines, Davis’ friend and main competition saw a different back on the field against Florida.

“I told him it was the first time I had ever seen him run like Jabari,” Houston said. “He ran hard. He ran like the J-Train.”

Davis earned the title “J-Train” for his power approach to the running back position

He said the Florida defense learned about Saturday.

“Once I get the ball and get into a rhythm and keep pounding the defense, I think the defense just gets tired of hitting me,” Davis said.

It was Davis who didn’t get tired of hitting the defense. Primarily used in short yardage and goal-line situations, Davis said he was happy to finally get in a rhythm.

He doesn’t mind splitting time with Houston, though.

“I really don’t have a problem with it,” Davis said. “Any team really needs two good backs. You really don’t need a back that can carry 40 times a game, really because it’s a lot of wear and tear on your back.

“You learn a lot from other people.”

Davis said he took lessons from the Florida game as well.

As the Vol offense was trying to run out the clock in the final minutes of the game, Davis fumbled a pitch to give the Gators the ball in the redzone.

“I went to the sideline and I was like ‘please don’t let this happen to me and cost us the game,” Davis said. “I went to the sideline and prayed. I was like ‘please God, I made a mistake, please help us get a victory.

“We worked so hard in the offseason and the past two weeks and I didn’t want a stupid mistake that I made to cost us the game.”

The Vol defense held and the offense got another chance to run out the clock.

The team started celebrating, but Davis just started praying again.

“I was so happy it was over – I thanked God,” Davis said. “Everyone told me not to worry about it (the fumble) and keep my head up.”

Davis will have to continue his patience, with Houston expected to return to his starting duties for this week’s game against South Carolina.

But Davis doesn’t mind. He knows his time will come.

“I want to do what’s best for the team and if rotating carries with Ced is what I gotta do, then that’s fine,” Davis said. “We make a good pair and people have a hard time stopping us.”

Houston, we have no problem: The player Davis replaced Saturday appears to be OK.

Vols head coach Phillip Fulmer said Houston was diagnosed with a slight hip pointer, but will be ready to play in Saturday’s home game with South Carolina.

“Looks like he’s going to be fine, probably sore for a couple of days,” Fulmer said.

Houston came into the Florida game averaging 160.5 yards rushing, which led the Southeastern Conference and ranked third nationally.

Before leaving the game in the third quarter, the junior from Arkansas had 12 carries for 25 yards.

Late night on the Plains: On Monday, it was announced Tennessee’s Oct. 4 game at Auburn will start at 7:45 p.m. (6:45 Central) and will be broadcast nationally on ESPN. It’s the same network and the same time slot as this week’s game against South Carolina at Neyland Stadium.