Jaguars’ VanBibber ready to go after knee injury
By jose Negron
jnegron@yourmvi.com
It’s comeback season for Thomas Jefferson’s DeRon VanBibber.
The senior running back/defensive back is working his way back to 100% heading into the fall football season after missing the second half of last season due to season-ending knee surgery.
He was forced to sit on the sidelines and watch as his team finished 16-0 and won WPIAL and PIAA championships. However, the 6-0, 175-pounder is now back on the field, doing all that he can to prepare for his immaculate return to the game he loves.
“There is no better feeling,” VanBibber said during Monday’s practice. “I love being out here with these guys.”
VanBibber, who carried the ball 38 times for 290 yards and eight touchdowns in six games last season, sustained the injury in the Jaguars’ 61-7 nonconference victory over Connellsville Sept. 27. He said he tweaked his knee the day before in practice and received treatment prior to gametime.
“It still felt a little iffy,” he said, “but I had to play.”
On VanBibber’s first drive in the Jaguars backfield, he caught a pass from quarterback Shane Stump on a tailback screen. He went to turn up field and cut off his inside leg, which gave out.
The result was a partially torn meniscus and a torn ACL.
“I really had no idea what happened. I tried to cut and I was on the ground,” VanBibber said. “I saw the trainers run out and thought it was serious.”
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