After an impressive set of spring practices and strong performance in fall camp, wide receiver Dre Massey was set to play a big role for the Florida offense this season.
Then, on the first play of the 2016 campaign, the JUCO signee’s first season as a Gator took an unfortunate turn.
Massey saw his 2016 season end essentially right when it started when he suffered a torn ACL on the opening kickoff of Florida’s 24-7 season-opening win against UMass. After trying to play through the pain during the first half of that contest, Massey soon left to the locker room and did not return.
Eleven days later, he would undergo surgery and start beginning his recovery and months of rehab.
It wasn’t easy for the 2016 four-star signee out of Goodwin (Miss.) Holmes Community College to watch from the sideline all year, knowing he would have played a key role for the Gators if he had avoided injury, but throughout it all he kept a positive mindset.
“When the first incident took place, he was very disappointed, but he got to thinking, ‘You know, things happen for a reason.’ So you live and you learn from it and you try to make the best of it,” said Massey's mother, Angela Payne. “He has a good attitude about it. He’s determined to get back out there.”
So far, Massey’s recovery from his torn ACL has gone extremely well, according to Payne, and the 5-foot-9, 180-pound wideout has been hard at work in the efforts of making a comeback.
On most Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays during the regular season, Massey has spent two sessions per day – one in the morning and then the next in the afternoon – rehabbing. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, he’s regularly received treatment for his knee followed by a rehab session in the afternoons. Massey has recently begun running on his knee and plans to starting cutting in January.
Currently, Massey is on track to be available for Florida’s 2017 season-opener in Dallas against Michigan on Sept. 2, 2017. He expects to be back in practice during the spring but in a non-contact capacity.
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“Rehab has been going great,” Payne said. “He’s just determined. He’s not giving up. He’s doing all of the things that are asked of him and to the best of his knowledge of completing and doing what he can to get back out there and get strong.
“He told me about the running and squatting. He’s done so much stuff. Also, how they’re telling him, ‘You’ve healed quicker than we expected. You’re ahead of, quicker than you’re supposed to be at.' That’s good news right there. He’s done good and he’s come far.”
Meanwhile, Massey has been attentive in meetings this season in an effort to not miss a beat. Recently, he has been a spectator at Florida’s practices to stay caught up.
In her conversations with Massey, Payne has noticed a “deep passion” from the wide receiver and a noticeable hunger in wanting to return to the field.
“He’s been very, very dedicated,” Payne said. “Sometimes, he goes more than he should, just because he’s determined to get back out there, you know? Sometimes, he probably overdoes it because he’s ready. He just wants to get back out there.”
Massey, who played two seasons at the JUCO level, will take a redshirt this season and have two years of eligibility at Florida remaining. When he returns to the mix, the versatile wideout – who can also serve as a running back, returner, wildcat quarterback and even punter for the Gators – should be heavily involved.
For Massey and his family, his expected return to regular-season action - Sept. 2, 2017 - cannot come soon enough.
“To me, it’s going to be exciting to just finally see him out on that field to able to do what he wanted to do this year,” Payne said. “To finally see him out there, it’s going to be very emotional. It’s kind of hard to explain, but it’s going to be very exciting to see him out there just knowing that he has that has that deep passion for what he does for football.”
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