SMU cornerback AJ Davis was taken off the field in an ambulance to a hospital after a special teams play late in the first half of the No. 20 Mustangs’ game against No. 18 Pittsburgh. However, he returned to the sideline with his teammates before the end of their 48-25 victory on Saturday night.
The ambulance from the University Park Fire Department drove almost the entire length of the field to reach Davis, who was surrounded by medical staff and secured on a stretcher. His head was stabilized with a special neck support device as he was placed in the ambulance.
“When it happened, they felt like he was OK. He was moving. He was coherent. He just had some pain in his neck and, you know, anytime that happens they’re going to be really cautious,” said SMU coach Rhett Lashlee.
“He was back on the sidelines at the end of the game. From what I was told briefly, all the scans and everything were good, and he should be OK. So that’s a big blessing.”
The Mustangs had just kicked off after taking a 28-3 lead when Davis was seen face down on the field. Video showed his head making contact with the returner while attempting a tackle, followed by another player falling on his back.
Several family members wearing Davis’ No. 14 jersey were on the field, comforted by Lashlee, who then gathered his players near the 35-yard line, not far from where Davis was being loaded into the ambulance.
“It was sad to see AJ go down, but I was glad to see him bounce back and be there with the team,” quarterback Kevin Jennings said.
Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi also approached and briefly spoke with Lashlee in the middle of the field.
“You don’t see that very often. This is the first time I’ve seen it in a long time,” Narduzzi remarked about the ambulance being on the field. “I just went up to Rhett to tell him we’re praying for him. … You don’t ever want to see anybody go down, and never want to see those lights come on on the field.”
