When Zenel Demhasaj tore his ACL several months ago it was a pretty devastating event because it threatened not only his immediate future, but his entire future as a football player. There would be inevitable questions about whether he would have the opportunity to take his game to the highest levels of the college game.

Some of those questions seem to be answered and answered in a way that satisfies Demhasaj.

The 6-foot-7, 320-pound junior college tackle from Garden City (N.Y.) Nassau C.C. is still working hard to get back to full speed, though he won't have played in any games this year by season's end, and colleges are still showing interest.

Nassau is undefeated despite his absence, and while he's happy for the team's success he has largely been focused on his own recovery.

"I was going to rehab but now it's up to me," he explained. "I'm on my own doing my own workouts. I'm coming back to normal.

"I'm able to run. I'm not squatting yet even though the doctors have said I'm able to. I'm just not trying to do that right away. It's only been four months and this is a six month healing process.

"I just now trying to get back to about 80-percent. I'm not trying to rush but I'm trying to get back. I'm doing squats against the wall with the medicine ball and certain little things that will help me slowly get back."

Demhasaj recently took an unofficial visit to Rutgers to check out the school. While he was there he met with a trainer who checked him out and gave him a couple of helpful pointers that should aid in his march back to full health.

"I went to check the place out and he (the trainer) said I was doing great," he said. "That was probably two weeks ago."

Demhasaj said plenty of schools are still interested, though he can't name all of them off the top of his head.

On Friday the offensive line coach from Pitt was scheduled to make the trip to Nassau C.C. to check him out, and he said most schools don't appear to be too worried about his health.

"I'd say a couple of (schools) are trying to wait and see how I'm healing but most of them already know I'm going to heal. They've been asking me about it. They're just waiting for me to come visit before they offer me. I don't even know what their facilities are like or anything so it would be pointless for them to offer me right now.

"Michigan State wants me to go there (for a visit) and I want to go to Pitt. There are a couple more, too."

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