Heggie returning to full strength

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 plans to 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,” Hevesy, also the team’s co-offensive coordinator, said. “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.”