“Everything was on its way up,” mentioned Demus, who led the Big Ten in receiving yards a month into his senior season and appeared poised to bolt to the NFL as soon as the 2021 slate ended.
Excitement grew across the staff, and followers packed inside Maryland’s stadium for a marquee Friday evening recreation in opposition to Iowa, ranked fifth nationally on the time. But then Demus secured the ball on a kickoff and sprinted towards the proper facet of the sphere. As an opposing participant tried to carry Demus to the bottom, his leg twisted along with his cleat caught within the turf — a kind of unnatural actions that turns into cringeworthy upon slow-motion replay. Demus didn’t really feel the ache of his ACL tearing, however he may inform one thing wasn’t proper as a result of his leg wouldn’t transfer.
The staff’s medical workers ushered Demus onto a cart, and the receiver shouted towards his teammates whereas pointing to the sphere that had betrayed him.
“I’m coming back,” he mentioned to the defensive gamers who had entered the sport as a result of he fumbled on that kickoff return.
Those phrases weren’t meant to be a declaration about Demus’s future. He principally wished the others to know that he was “still focused even though something tragic just happened.”
As the adrenaline wore off, ache set in. Demus returned to the sideline on crutches, watching that recreation in opposition to Iowa flip right into a lopsided loss. That evening, Demus thought of his faculty profession and what he hadn’t but achieved. He didn’t announce his choice till December however in the end used that very same phrase: “I’m coming back.” He says now his return to Maryland started crystallizing inside his thoughts instantly after that Iowa recreation.
“I have a lot of things undone,” mentioned Demus, a 6-foot-4 receiver who emerged early in his faculty profession as a harmful deep menace. “And there are a lot of things Maryland didn’t get to show out there.”
All the times since his harm have been geared towards restoration. Demus is just not again on the observe subject but. Standout receiver Jeshaun Jones can be working his manner again from a torn ACL, and Rakim Jarrett, who grew to become the highest receiving choice after Demus’s harm, has been restricted. The spring recreation Saturday will as an alternative showcase the potential of youthful gamers, akin to Tai Felton and Corey Dyches, a decent finish who’s working with the receivers this spring, together with Florida switch broad receiver Jacob Copeland.
Jones, who suffered his harm per week after Demus tore his ACL, has participated in some particular person drills this spring and is “probably a little bit ahead of schedule,” Locksley mentioned. Demus feels as if he’s made it about 75 p.c of the best way to full well being. He nonetheless has to make progress to be prepared for the season, but when each Jones and Demus can play, the Terps’ passing recreation ought to thrive.
Quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa has blossomed by the previous two years at Maryland, and with all 5 offensive line starters returning, the Terps have the potential to generate a prolific assault. Even with a depleted receiving corps in 2021, Maryland’s passing recreation excelled. And Demus, who racked up 507 receiving yards earlier than his harm within the fifth recreation of final season, wished to keep in College Park so he may have a job in this system’s subsequent steps ahead. The NFL may wait, he determined.
“It was always in my mind: ‘I could go. I could declare [for the NFL draft],’” Demus mentioned. “But that just wasn’t where my head was at. Being here was bigger than that. I wanted to help my team and make sure I still show them Maryland is on the cusp of doing some big things.”
Before this setback, Demus had by no means confronted a severe harm — “never broken anything, tweaked anything, no sprains or anything like that,” he mentioned. Watching from the sideline was a brand new expertise. So was the sluggish restoration from an harm that takes months of rehabilitation.
“It was hard because why can’t I just zap back right after surgery?” Demus mentioned. “I wasn’t too down on myself or let it get to me mentally because I knew I’m still going to play football.”
Through the autumn, because the Terps gained simply two of their remaining eight common season matchups however made it to a bowl recreation, Demus started his climb again, first working on extending his leg absolutely and recouping his power. Using an antigravity treadmill, he started working in January with out the drive of his full physique weight. Two months in the past, he ran usually for the primary time. Demus nonetheless wears a brace on his decrease leg that helps with stability, however as soon as he may run once more, he began feeling like himself.
Demus’s purpose is to be prepared for fall camp and the season opener. He has only a few months to get there. But that’s why he got here again for one other yr — to play for Maryland not less than a bit longer and propel this program in a optimistic course.
“Coming down that tunnel with my guys, being able to put my jersey back on, wear that 7 on my back again and go down there with my brothers,” Demus mentioned, “that’s going to be a dream come true again.”