USF back, who runs for 117 yards, aims for strong finish to disappointing college career.
By KEVIN BRAFFORD
Published November 9, 2003
GREENVILLE, N.C. - DeJuan Green had a Saturday to remember, rushing for 117 yards in 13 carries in South Florida's 38-37 victory over East Carolina in two overtimes. Not far from his heart, however, was another Saturday he'd like to forget but can't.
It was Sept. 6, and the Bulls had just won their home opener against Nicholls State, but Green didn't feel like celebrating. A heralded prep star coming out of Jacksonville Raines - his teammates included future Florida standouts Jabar Gaffney and Lito Sheppard - the 5-foot-11, 205-pound Green had transferred after two disappointing seasons at Georgia.
That night against Nicholls State, Green fumbled twice, and when he walked into the locker room before the next practice, he found himself at the bottom of the depth chart.
"In my heart I was crying," he said. "I had let my teammates down, and I'd let myself down. I never lost confidence in myself, but I knew the coaches had. It was the lowest point in my life, and that's saying something given all that I've been through."
Some would say Saturday's breakout performance is a case of too little, too late. A senior with Green's resume won't rank highly on the depth charts of NFL scouts, but the 23-year-old said he's determined to make every day count.
"All I can do is go out and give 100 percent and help my team win," he said. "We can't win the conference, but we can go to a bowl game, and I want to be a part of that."
Green said he could see a 100-yard game coming. He'd rushed for 54 on 10 carries against Southern Miss two weeks ago and 66 on 15 attempts against Cincinnati six days later, including a 25-yard run that was the winner in double overtime.
"The offensive line's doing a great job, and I'm getting more in synch with them the more carries I get," he said. "I finally feel like I'm starting to be the running back that I've always thought I could be."
If he had it to do over again, all his college football would have been played at South Florida.
"This was where I always wanted to be," he said. "I had some people advising me that thought I should go to Georgia, so I did. I should have listened to my heart.
"But that's in the past, and there's no use talking about it. Now, I just want to do the best I can in the games I have left."
