Jeff Fuller appeared to be on track to easily surpass his impressive receiving numbers -- 50 receptions for 630 yards and nine touchdowns -- as a freshman. Early in the second game of this season, though, he cracked his fibula and missed all of the next five games. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound Fuller returned for a dozen or so plays against Texas Tech and is now ready to build on his season totals of 13 receptions for 148 yards and a touchdown.
Fuller discusses the play, what he's gone through the past six weeks and where he stands now.
Q: What do you remember about the play in which you were injured?
A: It's been five weeks, so I've put it behind me. Major, major setback but everything happens for a reason so hopefully I can get some good out of it. I wasn't hit, any contact, it was self-inflicted. My foot caught in the grass trying to come back for the ball and got twisted up a little.
Q: What were your initial thoughts on what had happened?
A: I heard it pop, but I had never broken a bone before. It wasn't majorly painful but it hurt pretty bad. Initially, I really didn't know what was going on, so when I hit the X-ray room they told me I had a hairline fracture, and when they told me that, they told me right away it would be four to six weeks. I was pretty down, but I'm back now and looking forward to the future.
Q: When times got tough, who did you use as a sounding board?
A: Everybody was really supportive of me, my dad was, but I have to give a lot of credit to Matt Kee the physical therapist. Every morning we were grinding, running in the pool trying to get me back healthy. We took no steps back, just me and Matt Kee went hard at it.
Q: When did you feel like you were starting to make progress?
A: Definitely working with Matt Kee in the pool, him speeding up, slowing it down, putting me through workouts with the jets, him just getting me healthy in general. After the first week, every day it felt like it was getting better, so I kept on taking steps forward.
Q: What was tougher, not being able to practice with the team or having to sit on the sidelines during games?
A: All of it was hard, especially coming back home to Dallas (Arkansas game at Cowboy Stadium). I came in the locker room, the white helmets and everything, that had me down, but you still have to get motivated, you can't be selfish, you just have to look out for the team.
Q: Were you nervous when you went back on the field against Texas Tech?
A: A little bit, but all week nobody thought I was going to be ready. I was telling everybody 'I'm coming back this week' but nobody would believe me. Thursday came around and I told Coach [Mike] Sherman I felt fine and after a walk-through, we did a little individual workout and he cleared me and I was good to go. I knew what I was capable of doing and I just went out there and did whatever I could to help the team.
Q: Besides the win, what was the best thing for you at that Tech game?
A: I don't know [individually] because that's why you play, to win. So you can't really set anything aside from the big W. It felt good to be back on the field and to contribute. I got that first down, which was not only good for myself, but the team as well, so that felt pretty good.
Q: What percent were you at last weekend, and now a few days later, where are you at?
A: Last weekend, I would say, I was about 75 percent, and today I came out and had no idea how I was going to feel, and I felt great, so I'd put myself at about 85, 90 percent. I know day-by-day it's going to continue to get better because for the first time since I started working out, it's not sore the day after. Week after week, I'm going to get better and better, and that's exciting to know.
Q: Was being on the sideline in uniform and only getting a few plays as difficult as the Saturdays you knew beforehand you wouldn't even get to dress out?
A: I wasn't aggravated at all. BJ [Brandal Jackson] has been doing a great job in his role, and he practiced all week and I kind of sat out and watched [during the week]. Really, I didn't come into the picture until Thursday. Ultimately, BJ played a pretty good game. I came in on third downs and red zones and things like that, and I felt like that was a huge privilege knowing that I hadn't done anything in four weeks.
Q: Do you reset goals or where you want to be at the end of the season?
A: My goal is just to get better. I really don't set any numbers or personal goals. Ultimately, it's just to win games. To become better individually, but not just for myself, for the team as well.
Q: Do you look forward to getting back on Kyle Field and do you expect a big ovation?
A: It's going to be great to play back at home in front of the 12th Man. Maybe, maybe, hopefully they haven't forgot who I was quite yet.
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