Jeff Demps - Setting The Pace
Monday, November 7, 2011 | Football
By Nicole Greiner, UF Communications
It was during the 2008 season opener against Hawaii, The Gator Nation was introduced to one of the fastest and most versatile players in Florida history: Jeff Demps.
Demps stepped onto the field as a true freshman and not only lit the field on fire with a electrifying 62-yard touchdown run and also ignited the stands with cheers.
“Once I got the ball, I saw an open space and my eyes got real big,” the senior running back said. “Once I got in the end zone, I just couldn't believe it. I expected to score a touchdown in my career, just not that soon. It was really exciting for me.”
He also tacked on a 10-yard reception and another 14-yard run in his debut for the Orange and Blue. That performance was only the opening act of what Demps had to offer.
Urban Meyer, the Gators' head football coach at the time, and Mike Holloway, Florida's track & field head coach, knew they had a special young man from the get-go. Although they knew he was fast, they didn't know that Demps would play a key role in three National Championships for the Gators - a football national championship in 2008 and back-to-back indoor track championships in 2010 and 2011.
It was an easy decision for Demps to come to Florida, mainly because both coaching staffs made him feel like he was already a part of the program.
“When I was being recruited by Florida, it was a top school and the coaches were great,” Demps acknowledged. “Every time they came down to see me they always made me feel like I was already a part of the team. They had an outstanding football team as well as a solid academic support system.”
It was clear Demps possessed unique skill sets that allowed him to be successful on both the turf and the track but it was not that easy when he came to Florida.
“It was easy at times and then it was also hard at times,” he said. “Some days I would come out and have good practices and others I felt stressed out and felt like football wasn't for me anymore.”
It is hard to think that the speedster would have difficulty, or even have to work as hard as he has, over the last four years at Florida. During his career at Florida, he has averaged 7.2 yards per carry, the highest average for an active running back in the nation and has collected 2,205 rushing yards, the second-most for an active SEC running back.
Demps is one of a handful of dual-sport athletes and is the only Gator in school history to win a National Championship in two sports. Up until this point, he considers the three championships his greatest accomplishment, but they weren't easy to attain.
“When it started off, it was tough balancing working hard at football and going back for track and not really having time to do anything else,” the 2010 NCAA men's 60-meter dash champion said. “It was hard, but now I'm used to it.”
It was the support that he received from his family, coaches and teammates that allowed him to compete to the best of his abilities on the gridiron and track.
“The football team has always been grateful enough to let me focus on track and when there is no track I'm just focusing on football,” he said. “Everybody is trying to be in my corner.”
To many, the sports of track and field and football can be polar opposites. Track is considered an individual sport, while football is a considered the ultimate team sport. To Demps, both exchanging the baton and throwing a block are each part of being a member of a team.
“Football is a team sport but I also see track the same way,” Demps explained. “We have the same goals and are trying to go out there and compete to win championships. You have to do your individual event but at the end of the day your individual event is going to count towards the whole team score.”
In May, Demps will earn his bachelor's degree in sociology from the University of Florida. To him, earning his degree will be his greatest achievement - not the touchdowns, individual accolades or the national championships - but, more importantly, a degree from UF.
Although this is the final year of Demps' career as a Gator, it is likely not the last time The Gator Nation will see the 5-foot-7 191-pounder. He hopes to pursue a career either playing in the NFL or competing professionally in track.
“Having the opportunity to do one or the other would be a great accomplishment,” Demps said.
Both career paths are one in the same to Demps, but if one thing is clear, he has set the pace for many athletes donning the Orange and Blue. He brings more to the table than the clocking of 6.53 60-meter dash or a sprint up-field into the end zone.
