Davion Gause rushes for over 100 yards in debut against Charlotte

With Charlotte defender Al-Ma'hi Ali two yards away and directly in front of him, one word entered Davion Gause's mind. 

"Jump."

While two defenders, coming in from the left and right, pursued Gause, the first-year running back decided the only route was up. So, with 11 minutes left in the fourth quarter, Gause hurdled over the 5-foot-11 Ali for a 16-yard gain to move the chains.

JUMPMAN pic.twitter.com/kIpRUFtvNc

— Carolina Football (@UNCFootball) September 7, 2024

And just a few plays later, he capped off the drive with a 1-yard run to secure his first career touchdown. Gause ran into the middle of the Carolina Blue end zone and tossed the football into the air.

"It still hasn't hit me yet," he said.

In the first quarter, Gause was confined to the sidelines. He didn't see a minute of action during UNC's win against Minnesota last Thursday. The only reason the first-year got the opportunity to leap over Ali on Saturday was because star junior running back Omarion Hampton exited the game in the second quarter. And in his chance debut, during UNC's 38-20 victory over Charlotte, Gause made the most of his minutes. On 16 carries, he racked up 105 yards with some highlight worthy plays in between. 

But these types of moments are not uncharacteristic for Gause. These performances date all the way back to little league. 

At age 5, while doing hitting drills, the running back's coaches gifted him a name based on the tyke's performance: Bullet. And since then, the moniker has stuck.

"Everybody calls me Bullet," Gause said. "The only other person that calls me a different name is my mom."

And while Gause cannot remember exactly what he was doing during those hitting drills to warrant the nickname, the natural talent that appeared in those little league practices over a decade ago manifested into something colleges around the country took note of. 

Coming out of high school, after helping Chaminade-Madonna in Hollywood, Fla. to three state titles and accounting for 4,936 career yards and 56 touchdowns, the four-star prospect received offers from "everybody." 

But the offers didn't matter, Gause already had his mind set on North Carolina. 

While visiting UNC during his sophomore year of high school, Gause attended the Tar Heels' 45-42 win over Miami in 2021. He watched former UNC running backs Javonte Williams and Michael Carter run up and down the field. They made the type of plays Gause wanted to make one day. 

Right then and there, Gause knew he wanted to play at UNC if Mack Brown offered him a scholarship. Of course, the head coach eventually did. 

"I love the young guy," Brown said. "He is not afraid of anything. He's mature, tough [and] smart."

So, heading into his first season with the Tar Heels, even with the knowledge he would sit behind Hampton, Gause continues to keep that moment in the back of his mind. In the meantime, he's learning from the more experienced player. 

"What I learned from Omarion is don't get into what the people say and keep your head down and keep working," Gause said. "No matter how big you get."

And Gause is always ready when the call comes. He wants the opportunity to create those plays like Williams and Carter.

Still, following his game-changing carries against the 49ers, Gause isn't convinced he's fulfilled those goals just yet.

"Nah, I ain't made no big plays like that," he said. "[Williams and Carter] were making big plays that game."

But even he can't deny his hurdle might be a launching point for what's to come. And following the game, the running back received a lot of praise for the leap. 

"That hurdle was pretty sweet, huh?" a reporter remarked.

"Yeah," Gause said, laughing. "It was."

@_emmahmoon

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