TROY — Jamie Hampton’s season came to a crashing end in the fifth game of the season last year, when a shot to the knee tore ligaments and required season-ending surgery.
Since then, Hampton, who threw for 1,046 yards and nine touchdowns a year ago, has been getting his left knee back in shape. He’s been cleared by doctors to practice and play at full speed, but he’s set to redshirt this year and will have two years of eligibility left starting in the 2010 season. Hampton spent some time with the Dothan Eagle earlier this summer for an interview.
How close is the knee to 100 percent?
I’d say it’s still probably about 85 percent. I can run pretty good, but it’s still not full-full-full go. I’ve been hitting the weights pretty hard and getting the muscles back in my knees. It’s still got a little bit, another 10-15 percent to go.
Have you gotten weight and strength back?
I’ve gotten up to about 215 now. I had dipped down to 195 around my surgery, but I’ve gained all my weight back and pretty much all my strength back. I’m benching around 330-340 right now.
How much were you benching when you first got here (in fall 2007)?
About 240-250, so I’ve gone up about 100 pounds.
How’s your arm strength compared to when you first got here?
Since I first got here, I can tell a big difference. When I first got here, I couldn’t really throw an out route or the comeback, but I can finally do that now.
Were you able to hit those routes last year?
Yeah, about this time last year I was in pretty good shape. I was running pretty good and really strong back then. I’m where I was back last year, but I’ve got the rest of the summer to get better.
What’s the summer like for you?
It’s about the same. I’m just not in charge of the throwing — Levi’s in charge of that. We’re still doing the same thing. Other than that, I’m just trying to get better, bigger and stronger, more physical, and throwing better.
So you’re full-go?
I’m able to throw and do all that stuff now.
When you get back on the field, would you get worried about injury again?
You can’t really play with any nerves. If you start going slow, that’s when it reinjures again. You’ve just got to block it out because it’s part of the game and start playing.
Any interesting trips this summer?
Me and Zack (Marcum) and Simi (Adeeko) go down to Panama City every weekend. It’s a group like Campus Outreach, a christian organization. We go down there on Thursday, come back Sunday and go through the week and do it again the next weekend.
Is redshirting this season going to be tough?
Not really. Whenever you’re here you want to play, but it’s no big deal really. Just try to get bigger, faster and stronger and try to compete in the spring.
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