Jeffery Barnard Demps (born January 8, 1990) is an American former track and field athlete and professional football running back.
[2] In January 2012, Demps decided to focus on the 2012 United States Olympic Trials instead of the 2012 NFL draft, pursuing a career in track rather than professional football.
Demps attended South Lake High School in Groveland, Florida, where he was a second-team Class 4A all-state selection at running back, gaining 1,401 yards on the ground, along with 16 touchdowns on 157 carries during his senior year.
In March 2010, Demps won the 60 meters in 6.56 seconds at the 2010 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
[6] He claimed the 2012 NCAA Indoor title over 60 meters with a personal best run of 6.52 in the heats, then time of 6.56 seconds to win the final.
[7] At the 85th Texas Relays in March 2012, Demps won the 100 metres in the university group, ahead of Aaron Ernest of LSU.
[8] On July 25, 2012, Demps was added to the 2012 U.S. Olympic roster as a member of the 4×100 meter relay pool, serving as a replacement for Mike Rodgers, who suffered a stress fracture in his left foot.
However, he attracted interest from NFL teams after the Olympics, and agreed to terms on a three-year deal with the New England Patriots on August 17, 2012.
[15] On April 27, 2013, the Patriots traded Demps to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers along with a seventh-round selection (229th overall) in the 2013 NFL draft for running back LeGarrette Blount.