Demry Croft appeared to be operating on borrowed time six weeks ago. He was demoted for poor play and then suspended for violating team rules, stretching the patience of a head coach who didn't recruit him.
Even when Croft returned from suspension and clearly gave the Gophers their best option at quarterback, coach P.J. Fleck kept Croft in his crosshairs.
"I've got to be able to trust that you're going to do all the right things before you lead this football team," Fleck fumed after a loss at Purdue.
It was fair to wonder then: Will this guy even be around next season?
Thirty-five days later, Croft finally looked like a leader last Saturday with a stirring performance in a 33-point rout of Nebraska. The redshirt sophomore earned co-Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors after rushing for 183 yards and three touchdowns.
Croft looked like a different player in body language and the way he ran the offense, particularly with his decision-making on option plays.
It was a performance — albeit against a fragile defense that displayed little resistance — that grabbed your attention because it revealed more of Croft's talent.
One game isn't definitive, but the way Croft played raises optimism, especially if he can build on that performance in the final two games.