Suspended Gator Linebacker Demps scheduled to return

2007 July 16
by Jai Eugene

Athlon’s writeup on the Florida Gator Defense: Repeating as national champions could be a tall orderGates weed and kegs for the Gators if the coaching staff can’t shore up a defense that has been depleted by graduation and early defections to the NFL. Among those who need to be replaced are the top two tacklers — linebackers Brandon Siler and Earl Everett — along with backs Ryan Smith and Reggie Nelson, who combined for 14 interceptions in 2006, and big-play end Jarvis Moss [Athlon]

After reading Athlon’s assessment would anyone be surprised that a suspended defensive player would be reinstated? After the Marcus Thomas/Jarvis Moss suspensions last year, suspended for the Western Carolinas of the schedule but they were available for the Auburn/USC/UT/UGA games. We predicted back February link [Bong hits for Gates], that Demps would be back for Florida by the Tennessee game. Predicting Herban’s discipline measures is like shooting fish in a barrel.

Marcus Thomas = Jon Demps

Linebacker Jon Demps, who missed Florida’s spring football practices with off-field issues, said Saturday he has worked out with the Gators for the last two weeks and plans to be part of the team when the season starts [Orlando Sentinel].

Demps, speaking after the funeral of close friend and former teammate Avery Atkins, said he’s felt fine during conditioning and has had little trouble with his surgically repaired left knee. But he cautioned fans that he won’t be sure of his physical status until August.

“We’ll have to see what happens when I put the pads on,” he said.

Demps played four games as a freshman in 2005 and none last season thanks to problems with his left anterior cruciate ligament. Coach Urban Meyer said in February that Demps was “no longer with the team.” Demps missed the spring, and as of Saturday night, he was not listed on the 2007 roster at UF’s sports Web site, www.gatorzone.com. Saturday, Demps did not elaborate on his absence.

Demps’ return would boost the Gators, who will feature three new starters at linebacker in 2007. Dustin Doe, Brandon Spikes and A.J. Jones seem set to replace the departed Earl Everett, Brandon Siler and Brian Crum. Demps, who has practiced at both middle and outside linebacker, could slide in as the primary backup.

5 Responses leave one →
  1. 2007 July 16

    Doesn’t surprise me at all…BUT shored up defense or not I don’t see the Gators repeating.

  2. 2007 July 16

    “Marcus Thomas = Jon Demps”

    WTF, Jai? You couldn’t be more off. Why don’t you tell everyone why Demps was away from the team?

  3. 2007 July 16
    Cholo Rising permalink

    Wasn’t it another felony arrest…on demps? or weed

  4. 2007 July 16

    Wow! Funny Guy! Original, too.

    No, it was not.

  5. 2007 July 16

    LL

    We are shifting our focus to the Big East and WVU. Florida is now a 3rd stringer

    http://www.epiccarnival.com/2007/07/debunking-myth-of-big-east-conference.html

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