Former Florida Gators running back Jeff Demps, who decided on Jan. 12 to give up football in order to concentrate on his career as a sprinter, has “signed a standard representation agreement for football” and filed the necessary paperwork to play in the NFL according to NFL.com reporter Ian Rapoport.

Just days after winning a silver medal as part of the first round team for the United States the Men’s 4×100 Meter Relay in the 2012 London Olympics, Demps has decided to go back to the sport that he once called his first love.

Demps, who was invited but did not choose to attend the 2012 NFL Scouting Combine, was not selected in the 2012 NFL Draft even as a flier at the end of the third day. Due to these circumstances, he immediately becomes a free agent who can be signed by any team in the league that is interested in his services.

Though his size has always been an issue at 5’8” and 190 lbs., Demps’s straight-line speed is something that undoubtedly has teams drooling about his potential even if they decide he can only be used as a returner and occasional offensive player.

That is why his decision to give the NFL a shot is not much of a surprise, especially because he would always have enough time to change his mind again and get back into track shape a year or two before the 2016 Rio Olympics are set to begin.

As OGGOA wrote on Jan. 12:

When the Olympics are over, whether or not Demps brings home a medal, his playing experience with the Gators could always afford him an opportunity at one day playing in the NFL.

TAMPA BAY THE EARLY LEADER?

According to PewterReport.com, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are “seriously interested” in signing Demps and were in contact with him before he was named as an injury replacement for Team USA in the Olympics.

In fact, the Bucs came close to signing Demps this summer when he failed to qualify for the Olympics. [...] Instead of signing with the Bucs in July, Demps wanted to focus on racing in the Olympics and then concentrate on football in August.

The site also reports that Demps, if signed by Tampa Bay, would be used “as a slot receiver and a running back on offense and as a kick returner on special teams.”

Photo Credit: John Raoux/Associated Press

Tags: combine, Draft, Jeff Demps, NFL, Olympics, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

1 » After having ended each of his last two seasons standing on the sidelines and unable to play due to an injured ankle, Pittsburgh Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey made it his goal this season to ensure that it was completely healthy and as strong as possible heading into organized team activities. Pouncey had offseason ankle surgery and, after four weeks of OTAs, told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that it feels as healthy as ever. “I’m doing great so far,” he said on Wednesday. “It feels awesome – the best it’s ever felt.” Pouncey also told the paper that he actually needed surgery following the 2010 season and made a mistake not getting it done. “I came back and wasn’t healthy. I played through it. At the end of the season last year it got too weak and I needed the surgery,” he said.

2 » Quarterback Tim Tebow has arguably been criticized more than perhaps any other player through his short tenure in the NFL though most of the shots fired at him have been about his on-field play. Former player now-ESPN analyst Tedy Bruschi joined the barrage and jumped on Tebow’s back last week but not for the same reasons as others. Bruschi believes that Tebow is to blame for his own popularity and the hysteria surrounding him and a potential quarterback competition because he is never shy about talking to the media even when he’s not the starter on his own team. “Stop talking to the media so much,” Bruschi said on the network’s NFL 32 television program. “You need to disappear, okay, Tim Tebow? You’re not the starting quarterback, it’s Mark Sanchez’s team. I want my [team’s] voice to come from my head coach and my quarterback – my starting quarterback. That message has to be consistent. I don’t want all this competition brewing, and every time you speak and anytime you talk about competition or anything like that, you’re twisting things. I want one voice. One quarterback, not two.”

Asked to respond to these accusations, Tebow said this week, according to USA Today, that media appearances and interviews are completely out of his hands. He does what the New York Jets tell him to do – plain and simple. “To be honest, I just do what I’m told – and this [is the] day to talk to you [reporters], so I’m gonna talk to you,” he said on Wednesday after minicamp. “And to be honest, I just go about it however the Jets set it up – the rules that they want us to [follow], who they want us to talk to, who they don’t want us to talk to. And so I don’t get paid enough to make all those decisions. I just do what I’m told and try to do it as best as I can.” He continued, “I don’t know that I’m [outside the locker room] talking. I’m here talking to y’all because that’s what they want. Like I said, I just do what I’m told and try to make the most of it. So that’s something you’d figure that he would understand though. He’s a guy that I’ve always respected, and he always makes a lot of great points. I’m sure he had a great reason for it. But like I said, I’m just doing what I’m asked to do.”

Click to expand and read two more BITS in this post.

Tags: Bradley Beal, combine, field, Genevieve LaCaze, Maurkice Pouncey, NBA, New York Jets, NFL, Olympics, Pittsburgh Steelers, SEC, SEC Outdoor Championship, Tim Tebow, track

1 » University of Florida President Bernie Machen announced Friday that he will conclude his tenure sometime in 2013 after nearly a decade at the helm of the most prestigious institution of higher learning in the state. Machen, 68, made his announcement at the UF Board of Trustees meeting, and the school sent an e-mail to students, alumni and faculty almost simultaneously. “This decision reflects our joint feeling that there’s a time for everything in life and it’s now our time to pursue the next chapter,” said Machen while also referring to his wife Chris, according to The Gainesville Sun. “Of course, it will be pursued here in Gainesville and it will be pursued at the University of Florida.” The Sun notes that his most recent contract extension, signed last year, “establishes a post-presidency role for Machen at the university.” The school expects that it will have a decision on Machen’s replacement in the next six months; a smooth transition will take place with Machen handing over the reins and responsibilities at a time both parties deem to be the most convenient and effective. Read the school’s official announcement on Machen’s decision.

2 » The Jacksonville Jaguars announced Thursday that recently retired running back Fred Taylor would be inducted into the Pride of the Jaguars this season. Taylor, who will join offensive tackle Tony Boselli as the second member of the Pride, is arguably the most talented and popular player in team history. He finished his career in Jacksonville (spanning 11 years) with 11,271 yards (4.6 yards per carry average) and 62 rushing touchdowns along with 2,361 receiving yards and eight reception scores. Taylor is not a member of the Florida Gators’ Ring of Honor as he is not yet eligible but could become eligible should he be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He is, however, a member of the Florida-Georgia Hall of Fame and UF Athletic Hall of Fame.

Click here to expand and read two more BITS in this post.

Tags: Bernie Machen, Bradley Beal, combine, Fred Taylor, golf, Hall of Fame, Jacksonville Jaguars, NBA, New York Jets, NFL, Ring of Honor, Tim Tebow, University of Florida

1 » Players stand out every year during NFL organized team activieis that never wind up making the active roster but word out of the Baltimore Ravens camps is that former Florida Gators wide receiver Deonte Thompson is doing more than just playing well. According to Comcast SportsNet, Thompson’s performance over the last three weeks has been worthy of the “Most Heads Turned” award. “The undrafted free agent receiver from Florida emerged from the masses, exhibiting a ton of speed and nice hands,” insider John Eisenberg wrote. “[Joe] Flacco hooked up with him several times in the workouts open to the media. He gets the early nod as this year’s player most likely to…earn a roster spot as a longshot.”

2 » Probably not much of a surprise to many who have followed his career and injury history, Minnesota Vikings WR Percy Harvin was back out of action on Thursday just two days after joining OTAs for the first time this offseason. Harvin, who had minor shoulder surgery in April, was completely cleared for practice but no-showed on Thursday and wrote on Twitter that “there’s no such thing as minor surgery trust me.” He goes on to indicate that practice on Tuesday was bothersome to his shoulder and he hoped that he did not over-do it. Head coach Leslie Frazier downplayed Harvin’s absence by noting that OTAs are not mandatory, but it is rare for a player to miss one unless it is family or injury related.

3 » Though Gators guard Bradley Beal is not competing at the 2012 NBA Combine in Chicago, IL, he did get measured and weighed on Thursday. Beal came in at 6’3.25” with socks and 6’4.75” with shoes with a 6’8” wingspan and 8’3” reach. He also weighed 202 lbs. and checked in with just six percent body fat. Beal was listed at 6’3” by Florida so teams are certainly excited to see that extra inch of height. His decision not to participate was likely one made by agent Mark Bartelstein.

4 » There have been plenty of cameras and production crews in Gainesville, FL over the last few months filming former Gators swimmer Ryan Lochte as he trains for the 2012 London Olympics. The latest came as part of a commercial shoot for AT&T, which filmed Lochte at Broward Pool on Wednesday. “Lochte, who stars in the commercial, sprang from a starting block and disappeared beneath the water’s surface,” according to the The Independent Florida Alligator. “Production crew members used rain barrels to create waves in the pool, which was lined with special-effects material to darken its water.” It is unknown when the commercial will air.

Tags: Baltimore Ravens, Bradley Beal, combine, Deonte Thompson, Mark Bartelstein, Minnesota Vikings, NBA, NFL, Olympics, Percy Harvin, Ryan Lochte, swimming

1 » Florida Gators senior right-handed pitcher Greg Larson became the ninth member of his team selected in the 2012 MLB Draft when he was chosen on Wednesday with the No. 631 overall pick in the 20th round by the Boston Red Sox. Larson is the third Florida thrower to be picked by Boston in the draft after the Red Sox chose junior lefty Brian Johnson with the No. 31 overall pick in the first round and junior righty Austin Maddox with the No. 118 overall pick in the third round. It is the second time in team history that Boston has picked three players from UF (1979).

2 » Former Gators linebacker Brandon Siler signed a one-year deal with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2011 with hopes of proving that he could be the full-time starter and deserved a multi-year contract. Unfortunately for Siler, he tore his Achilles and never stepped on the field for the team in a regular season game; fortunately Kansas City decided to give him a second chance and signed him to a one-year extension in January. “It’s been frustrating,” Siler told the team’s website following the Chiefs’ seventh organized team activity practice. “My momma brought it to my attention that I haven’t been out of football this long since I was seven years old and that kind of puts everything in perspective. Football is what I do. [...] It’s my job to go out there and do what I do, and I can’t do that right now, so I shouldn’t be talked about. I plan on getting back out there and showing what I can do. [...] I’m just going to keep working with the trainers and follow what they have me doing. I want to get back out there immediately, of course, but they have a plan for me and I’m just going to follow that.”

Read four more BITS (and watch a video interview)…after the break!
Continue Reading » SIX BITS: Larson, Siler, Beal, Harvin, Mather

Tags: Austin Maddox, Boston Red Sox, Bradley Beal, Brandon Siler, Brian Johnson, combine, Draft, Joanna Mather, Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings, MLB, NBA, NFL, Percy Harvin, Roland Thornqvist, tennis, Thaddeus Bullard, Titus O'Neil, WWE

From time to time, OGGOA will come across a plethora of news and notes that we wish to share – too much to fit into one of our truncated BITS segments. In these instances, or when stories fall through the cracks, we catch and wrap them all up with Gator Bites.

» Former Florida Gators forward Chandler Parsons of the Houston Rockets was named to the NBA’s All-Rookie second team on Tuesday, falling just seven points short of earning a first-team nod. Parsons averaged 9.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.2 steals while starting 57 of 63 games for Houston in his rookie season.

» Hoping to achieve a similar feat in his rookie season, Florida freshman guard Bradley Beal is currently getting ready to work out for teams as he prepares for the 2012 NBA Draft. He will have some help towards that goal thanks to the league, which invited him to be one of 60 players who will compete at the 2012 NBA Combine in Chicago, IL. Gators senior point guard Erving Walker was not included on the list.

» Florida head coach Will Muschamp and offensive coordinator Brent Pease made it a point to note that they plan to bring on a quarterback commitment each and every year. To that end a pair of three-star 2013 signal callers, Ryan Buchanan (Jackson, MS) and Tim Boyle (Middleton, CT), will be visiting Gainesville, FL over the weekend. Though UF has struck out with some big name quarterbacks this recruiting cycle and has four signal callers that will be on the roster for at least the next two years, the coaches have not changed their minds about brining another one into the fold. “It’s a very difficult position to evaluate and then take the right guy,” Muschamp said at a Gator Gathering on Tuesday, according to InsidetheGators.com. “Guys that worry about depth charts, we don’t want them. You hit it with them one time, if they ask you to go over it a second time. If they ask a third time, you need to move on.” If the Gators have their way, either Buchanan or Boyle will put an end to their search for a 2013 quarterback.

» Speaking of recruiting, things are getting interesting (or aggravating, if you prefer) for Florida basketball as the team looks to add at least one more player before heading into the 2012-13 season. South Carolina transfer power forward Damontre Harris, a former four-star recruit who averaged 6.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks while playing 25.9 minutes per game last season, was supposed to make his decision between UF, Kansas or staying at USC last week but has yet to make a call. The Gators are also under consideration by Virginia Tech transfer F Dorian Finney-Smith, another former four-star recruit who averaged 6.3 points and 7.0 rebounds while shooting 36.6 percent from three last season. Finney-Smith has only “narrowed” his list to Florida, Georgetown, Iowa State, Louisville, Marquette, Ohio State and Texas. He will take visits and speak to coaches before making his decision.

» Joining the undecided party is 2012 four-star PF Montrezl Harrell (Tarboro, VA). Formerly a VT signee, Harrell decided to pursue other opportunities after the team fired head coach Seth Greenberg and is heavily considering playing for UF, which is one of a handful of schools on his short list (Alabama, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, South Carolina are the others). The Gators may have an inside track on Harrell due to head coach Billy Donovan being the head coach for the USA Basketball U18 National Team during training camp from June 5-12 in Colorado Springs, CO. Harrell will be playing on the team and have the opportunity to see first-hand what it would be like to practice and play for Donovan. Some are of the opinion that Louisville, a team he did not list when mentioning his top five, has an opportunity to be his eventual destination.

Continue Reading » Gator Bites for Wednesday, May 23

Tags: AFL, All-American, All-Rookie, All-SEC, Billy Donovan, Bradley Beal, Brent Pease, Chandler Parsons, combine, CPSDA Athlete of the Year, Damontre Harris, Dorian Finney-Smith, Draft, Dwayne Dixon, Erving Walker, Genevieve LaCaze, Hall of Fame, Houston Rockets, Jeff Demps, Miami Heat, Montrezl Harrell, NBA, NFL, Olympics, Playoffs, Robin Reynolds, Ryan Buchanan, Ryan Lochte, SEC, SEC Outdoor Championship, Steve Spurrier, Tim Boyle, Tim Tebow, track, Udonis Haslem, USA Basketball, Will Muschamp

1 » He may not have been drafted as early as he would have liked but new St. Louis Rams cornerback Janoris Jenkins is already drawing rave reviews from his performances at rookie minicamp. St. Louis head coach Jeff Fisher was interviewed on ESPN’s NFL 32 program on Tuesday and said that Jenkins is proving his evaluators right so far. “[Jenkins is] very talented – obviously we know that and that has shown just in the last couple of days,” he explained. “He’s got excellent football intelligence and he carries things from the classroom to the field. He’s going to be a really good player soon for us.” Fisher also discussed the process that the Rams’ front office went through in evaluating Jenkins’s off-the-field issues. “It started with the 15-minute interview at the Combine and then the visit where we had him for the day,” he said. “Believe me, no one did more research [than we did]. Everyone we talked to along the road, whether it was in Pahokee, Florida, the University of Florida or people from North Alabama, everyone to a man said, ‘Take this young man.’ This stuff is behind him.” Speaking of Jenkins, below is a video interview he did with ESPN after being selected in the 2012 NFL Draft.

2 » Despite coaches saying after trading for him that quarterback Tim Tebow would play a number of other positions this season for the New York Jets, Tebow told the media last week that he has only taken snaps as a signal caller so far during minicamp. Not only is Tebow only working at quarterback at this point, he has also received rave reviews from both offensive coordinator Tony Sparano and quarterbacks coach Matt Cavanaugh in regards to the progress he has made at his position. “I think he can be very good,” Cavanaugh told the New York Daily News on Tuesday. “I was pleasantly surprised when I saw him over an extended period of time…not just watching him play on film. I think he’s certainly got the arm strength. He has good mechanics. They’re getting better every day.” He also explained to the paper that improved footwork and additional work inside the pocket can help Tebow get even better. “I think with Tim, he’s more focused right now in the offseason on just working on the fundamentals of trying to be rhythmic in the pocket,” Cavanaugh said. “He’s shown great progress. I’m real pleased with him. [...] He doesn’t let a day go by when he’s not focused on trying to get better at something.”

Tags: combine, Draft, Janoris Jenkins, New York Jets, NFL, St. Louis Rams, Tim Tebow

Round 5 – No. 159
Chris Rainey, RB
Pittsburgh Steelers

Height: 5’8″ – Weight: 180 lbs.
Age: 24 – Class: Senior

Arguably the Florida Gators’ most valuable offensive starter in 2011 and one of the most naturally explosive players in team history, running back Chris Rainey was selected Friday afternoon by the Pittsburgh Steelers with the 24th pick in the fifth round (No. 159 overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft.

Chosen later in the process due to concerns about his size (5’8” 180 lbs.) and durability, Rainey has proven over his five-year college career that he can be a major playmaker when used correctly and provided with an opportunity.

He posted the fastest 20-yard shuttle (3.93 seconds), 60-yard shuttle (11.06) and three-cone drill (6.50) times out of the entire field at the 2012 NFL Scouting Combine and also finished with the second-fastest time in the 40-yard dash at 4.45 seconds.

“Chris Rainey is an exciting player,” general manager Kevin Colbert said after making the selection. “He is a small guy but when you watch him run against SEC competition, he was really impressive. He doesn’t run people over but week-in and week-out the kid showed up in probably one of the toughest conferences in the country as a running back. In addition to that, he can do punt returns and kick returns.”

“Chris is a guy that we’re real excited to bring into the mix,” offensive coordinator Todd Haley added. “I think he is a very versatile player that is obviously fast and explosive. He can catch the ball, he can run with it and he can return it. That’s a commodity and we’re really excited to bring him aboard and work with him and put him into the mix.”

Rainey is the first Florida running back to be drafted since DeShawn Wynn was picked with the No. 228 overall selection in the seventh round by Green Bay in 2007. He is the third Gators player to be selected by Pittsburgh in as many years following in the footsteps of center Maurkice Pouncey (2010) and tackle Marcus Gilbert (2011).

He will now join his two former teammates on the Steelers and is the 24th Florida player selected all-time by the franchise (most of any team in the league.

The Gators have had multiple players picked in the draft 32 years in a row.

ADDITIONAL DRAFT CONTENT
» Rainey Conference Call (audio)
» Haley Press Conference on Rainey (video)
» Colbert on if there were any character concerns with Rainey: “Chris Rainey, everybody knows about the texting situation and we were well aware of it as well. We had some unique background on this kid because of his relationship with the Pouncey family. Knowing Maurkice’s mother and father, for them to take a kid in and provide him a home in high school said a lot to us. Those people are great folks they provided a great home for their own children. For them to endorse this kid by letting him live with them for part of his high school career while he went to Lakeland High School as the Pouncey brothers did. It said something to us. Of course Maurkice spoke highly of him as well, but he is a teammate and a friend, so we took that with a grain-of-salt even though we trust his opinion. When his family reached out to provide this kid with an opportunity and he takes that opportunity to go on and graduate, that says something to us.”

Tags: Chris Rainey, combine, Draft, Marcus Gilbert, Maurkice Pouncey, NFL, Pittsburgh Steelers