By Pete Pelegrin
Twitter: @Petepelegrin

When FIU guard Jordan Budwig steps on the field at Spectrum Stadium in Orlando on August 31 it will mark the end of a long, admirable return to college football for the senior.

On that final Thursday in August, an arduous journey of 1,011 days since Budwig last played in a college football game will come to an end. You have to go back to November 22, 2014 in Denton, Texas for the last time Budwig played in a football game. FIU played at North Texas on that late November afternoon.

It was in that game where Budwig first injured his right shoulder. Budwig was then a sophomore for FIU and had started every game in his first two seasons as a Panther.

Budwig tried to come back in 2015 from the torn labrum but he tore the shoulder again in his comeback attempt. Still, Budwig persevered because he loved football too much and wanted to get back on the field with his "brothers".

"I'm incredibly blessed," Budwig said. "It's been a crazy ride two years away from the game being on the sidelines. It's been a lot of mental stuff, helping my [offensive linemen] brothers through film and teaching young guys. There's nothing better to be back at 100 percent and being back out there with my brothers."

Despite missing two full seasons of college football, Budwig is by far the FIU offensive lineman with the most playing experience with 24 starts under his belt. Still, upon his return FIU offensive line coach Allen Mogridge advised Budwig to let his actions speak louder than his words.

"Jordan's job is to be the lowest man in the foxhole," Mogridge said. "It's a tough spot that he's in because he played here but he's been gone two years. What he's been able to focus on is letting his body of work talk and that's what he's done a really good job at. Now if a dude needs a hand, my man Jordan is going to lock arms. As the kids see what is happening and as they see Jordan's body of work on film, Jordan doesn't have to say a word."

For the past two years Budwig did participate in offensive line meetings and was active on the sidelines at practices and in games helping his fellow linemen when needed.

"When I got here I knew Bud was someone that I needed to hang out with and someone I needed to look up to," FIU junior center Neal Mars said. "He won't jump anyone if they mess up but he will take you to the side and say we need to work on this."

Budwig has always had that inner coach in him.

"I've always taken pride in the young guys looking up to me when I was on the field," Budwig said. "Being on the sidelines I tried to teach them what it took to play since I couldn't. It's obviously different when you are out there with them on the field."

Budwig credits FIU football head athletic trainer Kevin O'Neill and FIU football strength coach Chad Smith for mending his shoulder and strengthening it to be where he is today.

Mars not only admires Budwig for what he's done on the field but what he has overcome to get back on the gridiron.

"I know guys that have gotten that injury and they just call it quits," Mars said. "They shut down mentally. I don't know how I would react but Bud has fought back. He's always grinding."

Two weeks from Thursday, Budwig can envision that final August night in Orlando when he steps back on the field having conquered the setbacks that kept him away for so long.

"It's going to be incredible," Budwig said. "It's been a long time since I have been under those lights. I'm incredibly blessed to be where I am, to be able to play for [FIU] Coach [Butch] Davis and coach Mogridge. I'm excited. There are no words for it."

Like Budwig did in training camp, he'll let his actions speak for his words.