Heggie returning to full strength for Gators
GAINESVILLE — Following injury setbacks, UF guard Brett Heggie is beginning to make strides and inch closer to a significant role.
When Heggie suffered a season-ending knee injury last November against Missouri, the Mount Dora product was the Gators’ best offensive lineman.
Upon his return for preseason camp, Heggie battled turf toe and is just now feeling 100 percent. His game still is catching up.
“I’m getting better, I think, every day,” he said this week. “I still got a little bit to go to compare to where I was last year. I’m working on it. I’m getting there.”
The Gators (2-1) could use Heggie’s steadying influence and aggressive nature up front. Inconsistent line play has held back UF’s offense, which enters Saturday night’s visit to Tennessee (2-1) ranked 13th among 14 SEC schools with an average of 382.3 yards.
Heggie was more involved during last Saturday’s win against Colorado State. He played 10 snaps, according to 247Sports.com. He had a key block on freshman tailback Dameon Pierce’s 68-yard run late in the game.
Line coach John Hevesy’s plan is to increase Heggie’s
workload and round out the Gators’ rotation.
“I told him, each week I’m going to get you in there a series, just get a little more comfortable playing six, seven, eight guys,” said Hevesy, also the team’s co-offensive coordinator. “You earn your right in practice to play each week.”
Heggie missed spring practices and much of preseason camp recovering from injuries. He only now is getting comfortable with Hevesy and coach Dan Mullen’s system.
“It’s just different how he wants things done,” Heggie said of Hevesy. “As players, when a coach is coming in, you have to learn to adjust to how they want it done.”
Jefferson homecoming
UF receiver Van Jefferson was an All-State selection and a finalist for Tennessee’s Mr. Football when he was in high school.
But Saturday will be the 22-year-old’s first trip to Tennessee’s Neyland Stadium.
Growing up in Brentwood, outside of Nashville, Jefferson never made the three-hour drive east to see a game in Knoxville. He then left the state to attend Ole Miss, where he played two seasons before transferring last spring to UF.
“People are telling me that’s nothing compared to what Tennessee is,” Jefferson
said. “But, I mean, just enjoy it. Just go out there and enjoy it, have fun. I like playing away games, personally.”
This one will be different, though.
On Tuesday, Jefferson still was tracking down tickets for people but knew his mother, sister and 2-year-old daughter, along with several of his friends, would be there.
Jefferson also will have the attention of the Vols. He leads the Gators with eight catches for 127 yards and three touchdowns, including a picture-perfect 38-yard hook-up with Feleipe Franks down the right sideline.
Jefferson’s daughter missed last week’s touchdown but attended UF’s season opener and even cheered one of her father’s two touchdowns. Or at least, Jefferson thinks she did.
“I mean, when I scored in the first game, they got a video of her cheering and stuff like that,” he said. “She’s gotta understand when her dad’s playing. When she gets older, she’ll understand.”
Vols to honor 1998 champions
Tennessee will welcome back the 1998 team for the 20th anniversary of its national championship season.
Current UT athletics director Phillip Fulmer coached the squad to a 13-0 record, highlighted by a 20-17 overtime win against the Gators and a 23-16 Fiesta Bowl victory over FSU.