Nebraska football walking a tightrope with Demond Demas pursuit
The Nebraska football team looks like it’s about to land a talented receiver in Demond Demas, but hopefully, coaches are wary of the baggage he brings.
The Huskers pursuit of the former Texas A&M product who is now at Garden City Community College should be met with a couple of different reactions. The first, as a Nebraska football fan is obviously going to be “go get this young man.”
After all, Demas is a former 5-star prospect out of high school who has at least some big-time college football under his belt. He’s a speedster who averaged 15.7 yards per catch in the only season he played for the Aggies. That average included a 70-yard TD in his 15 catches for 235 yards.
A second, different reaction from most thinking and feeling Nebraska football fans should be born out of the reason why he only played one season for Texas A&M and why he is now at Garden City and ripe for the picking for the Huskers.
Back in February of 2022, back when Scott Frost was busy hiring the coaching staff he hoped would save his job, Demas was getting arrested for domestic abuse. The reported details that led up to the arrest are very not good:
"“[Demas] pushed her head into the wall. Then she bit him on the shoulder. [She] reported that [Demas] then grabbed her and threw her from off of the bed onto the floor, which caused her top front teeth to go through her bottom lip.”"
In July, Demas pled guilty to a third-degree felony charge of violating a bond and a protective order twice within a 12-month period. He also pled guilty to a class A misdemeanor charge of family violence assault that causes bodily injury.
He’s currently serving out the penalty that came with that plea, a five-year probation with deferred adjudication.
Nebraska football is walking a tightrope
It’s here that I make very clear I believe in second chances. It is, of course, possible that the Nebraska football coaching staff has done its due diligence to an extensive degree. I would hope that they talked to people who have interacted with Demas since that court appearance and who believe he really is going to try and do better.
However, I don’t love the statement he made to 247Sports not long after he reached that plea deal:
"“No one is perfect. But I do take responsibility for not being in full control of my actions and the energy around me that led to (the) particular situations and distractions.”"
No Demond, no one is perfect. But I’m not sure that’s the energy I want to see from someone who is legitimately sorry for putting his girlfriend’s head into a wall.
I’ll admit, it’s that statement more than anything else that has me quite torn about Nebraska football’s offer to the wide receiver prospect. It’s hard not to think about everything that’s gone on with Arik Gilbert since he became a part of the program.
Demond Demas and Gilbert are obviously different people. One player’s situation doesn’t mean the other’s situation is going to go sour, but anyone who wants Demas in Lincoln should be rooting for Nebraska football to make sure they know what kind of person they are bringing to town.
On its face, I’m not against this offer and with the Huskers already getting at least one Crystal Ball saying the Nebraska football is the front-runner, it seems like there’s a decent chance he’ll come here. It’s just important that everyone realize there’s a tightrope being walked here and hope no one falls off.