Demps has a plan to stay loose at Vanderbilt
Tuesday, November 2, 2010 | Football, Cross Country, Scott Carter
Three games into the season, and it wasn't too difficult to imagine junior running back Jeff Demps becoming the Gators' first 1,000-yard rusher during Urban Meyer's tenure.
Demps rushed for 310 yards in Florida's wins over Miami (Ohio), USF and Tennessee. But in the 31-17 win over the Vols, Demps suffered a ligament sprain in his left foot that has hampered him since.
He missed the LSU game and in four other games, Demps has 178 yards on 33 carries. A 1,000-yard season seems unlikely now, but Demps continues to work hard in getting back to full-speed.
When the Gators travel to Vanderbilt on Saturday, Demps plans to ride a stationary bike during halftime to keep his left foot loose.
“At halftime you take a break and sit down for a little bit,” Demps said Monday. “It got harder to get that adrenaline going again for the second half [against Georgia]. It starts getting stiff on me. The best thing for me is probably just to stay active, probably keep moving; probably get on the bike.”
When Demps was in high school, he said Monday that he would sometimes ride a stationary bike during halftime to avoid cramping issues. He hopes to injured foot continues to get better so he can make more of a difference on the field.
In Saturday's win at Georgia, Demps scored his first rushing touchdown since the USF game and hauled in a 40-yard reception from quarterback John Brantley.
“I'm able to practice – limited reps, but the reps I am getting are quality reps,'' Demps said. “It's sharp pains going through the top of my foot and the outside of it. When I cut, it's hard because I have that sharp pain and I can't really push off it like I want to.”
In seven games, Demps has 488 yards on 78 carries, a 6.8 average.
