Universal Runs With Davis Pitch

Universal Pictures is in final negotiations to acquire writer Scott Williams' pitch "The Ernie Davis Story," based on the life of the college football standout.

Davis Entertainment's John Davis (no relation) will produce the project, which follows the two-time All-American running back for Syracuse University who led his team to the national championship in 1960. In 1961, he became the first black man to win the Heisman Trophy — the highest individual honor in college football.

Later that year, he was the first pick in the NFL draft, going to the Washington Redskins, who then traded him to the Cleveland Browns. But Davis never got a chance to play professional football.

He was diagnosed with leukemia during the summer of 1962 and died nearly a year later on May 18, 1963.

Davis Entertainment production executive Adam Coplan brought the project to the company and will oversee its development with company president Wyck Godfrey.

Universal's Tim O'Hare and Matt Jackson will oversee the project for the studio.

Williams is a writer-producer on NBC's "Third Watch." His other credits include a co-producing credit on "The District" and writing credits on "Brimstone," "Brooklyn South" and "NYPD Blue."

Williams, repped by the Gersh Agency and the law firm Stone, Meyer, Genow, also was hired to write the script "Aces" for Imagine and the spec "Drowned" for Warner Bros.