SNY.tv: Online Home of All Things Sports

Just ask Anthony Davis.

After only five days of Rutgers practices, Davis says he's gone from 325 pounds to his goal weight of 315.

How did he do it?

"Just eating right and working. And being outside in 100 degree weather helps," the 6-foot-6 junior offensive lineman from Piscataway said on Sunday during Rutgers Media Day.

After sending several big-name players to the NFL after last season, Davis might well be the most high-profile player on the 2009 Scarlet Knights. Rutgers opens the season Sept. 7 against Big East rival Cincinnati at Rutgers Stadium.

Davis was named a preseason second-team All-American by Athlon Sports and appeared on the cover of that magazine's 2009 Big East preview under the heading "Beast of the East."

Still, he didn't exactly get off on the right foot this season.

He showed up last week weighing 10 pounds more than head coach Greg Schiano wanted him to.

And so the head coach made Davis practice with the second-team unit last week.

Yet in seemingly no time, Davis has gotten back in the coach's good graces.

"Anthony [Davis] is a special athlete for a man of his size," Schiano said Sunday. "He has done that. He's gotten his weight back in line. He is a great competitor. You can just see his whole countenance change, now that he is back with the ones. He is ready to play."

Turns out dropping 10 pounds is nothing compared to dropping 40.

When Davis showed up as a freshman two years ago, he tipped the scales at 366 pounds.

Years and years of eating fast food at Burger King, McDonald's and Wendy's will do that to a person.

"That was bad, that's why I was 360," Davis said.

When Davis got to Rutgers as a freshman, he was immediately put on weight-training program that forced him to substitute grilled chicken and broccoli for cheeseburgers and fried chicken.

"I haven't had soda in like three years," Davis said. "It's like a lifestyle change."

He credits assistant head coach and co-offensive coordinator Kyle Flood as triggering that change.

"Coach Flood, he plays a big part in my life and whatever he tells me, I listen to it and I take it," Davis said.

He added: "Now it's something I know have to do -- maintain a certain weight. It's my responsibility."

With a new quarterback and two new wide receivers, there is a lot of uncertainty on the offensive side of the football.

But the offensive line of Davis at left tackle; Caleb Ruch at left guard; Ryan Blaszczyk at center; Art Forst at right guard; and Kevin Haslam at right tackle should be a strength for the Knights.

"We are certainly in a better spot than we were last year, but they are still not the ancient sages up there," Schiano said. "You have Art Forst who started seven, eight games. He is a young guy. Caleb Ruch hasn't played a lot of football. They are learning for sure. It is nice that you have Ryan Blaszczyk and Kevin Haslam helping them."

As for Davis, he will surely face questions after the year about whether he will leave early for the NFL the same way wideout Kenny Britt did last season.

Yet he says his focus for right now is the season at hand and keeping his weight in check.

Playing in 100-degree weather sure helps in that regard.

'I'm excited about the year," Davis said. "It's a chance to play with my boys on the 'O' line. It's gonna be fun."