COLUMBIA --- Clemson's "Thunder" is back at Death Valley.

Tigers runner James Davis has returned to college more than a week after announcing his intentions to turn pro, and three days after the NFL's deadline to declare for the draft.

The school said Friday that Davis faxed letters to the NFL and Clemson University just hours before the deadline to reconsider. Davis is expected to return to class Tuesday.

Davis said he spoke with his mother well into the night Thursday about whether he'd made the right call for the NFL.

"I knew today was the final deadline," Davis said. "I woke up last night at 3 a.m. and just thought about everything and thought about my future. Coming back to Clemson is just the right thing to do."

Clemson coach Tommy Bowden said last week he thought Davis was better off with another year of college. He was glad Davis reached the same conclusion.

"I know it was a difficult decision for him and we continued to communicate. In the final analysis he realizes this is the best decision for him and his family," Bowden said.

Davis is the Clemson's first player to submit paperwork for the NFL Draft and then decide to return, athletic spokesman Tim Bourret said Friday. He had announced he was leaving school on Jan. 9.

Davis struggled with his choice since Clemson's 23-20 overtime loss to Auburn at the Chick-fil-A Bowl on New Year's Eve.

He met twice with his family and made a trip to Florida to clear his head.

Part of the reason to go pro was financial, said Davis, who has a 1-year-old daughter. A bigger reason was Davis' goal of playing in the NFL.

"It's my dream, man," he said then.

Davis was projected as a third-round selection. However, Bowden had asked Davis to call around to NFL general managers about his prospects. Apparently, Davis didn't like what he heard.

This year's draft has an impressive group of running backs, including Darren McFadden and Felix Jones from Arkansas as well as Central Florida's Kevin Smith, Michigan's Mike Hart, Rutgers' Ray Rice and West Virginia's Steve Slaton.