The Buccaneers have made contact with former Florida Gator running back and U.S. Olympic track star Jeff Demps. (Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-US PRESSWIRE)

Former Florida Gator Jeff Demps has announced that after competing in the 2012 Olympic Games, he is ready to start a career in the NFL, and the Bucs are one of the teams that he’ll likely play for.

Demps and the Buccaneers have had talks about a contract, Demps agent says. There are also a number of other teams that want to add the Olympian but his ties to Florida may give the Bucs a certain edge. There’s not any top flight football talent out of the gate for Demps, but the allure is that he doubled as a Track and Field star at Florida.

And it’s not like he was average, as Demps qualified for the U.S Olympic track team and helped the men’s team qualify for the 4×100 final in which they placed second behind Usain Bolt and Jamaica.

So even though his skills as a football player may need some work, he’s an Olympic track star — need I say more?

There’s no reason the Bucs shouldn’t take a chance at trying out a guy that instantly adds that kind of speed to the offense as either a running back or a slot receiver. We at The Pewter Plank have been touting the Bucs offense and all it’s weapons since the signing of Vincent Jackson, and adding an Olympic athlete is just an insanely good idea.

It’s a low risk, incredibly fast and high reward for the Bucs. This is world class speed we’re talking about in Demps, using him in the offense is just about almost unfair.

The talks with Demps haven’t yet produced numbers in terms of a contract, but there has been contact made, and positive contact at that. Demps is expected to sign with a team at some point between now and the next two preseason games. I’d put money on it being closer to the next preseason game, as Demps speed alone isn’t worth a final roster spot. He’ll need time to channel the football player in him again.