A few weeks ago, hailed as the No. 1 recruit in the country for the class of 2024 out of Bingham High School, was wearing two casts on her ankles and rolling around on a scooter through Utah’s Dumke Center. Now, that was a far cry from the powerful, precise tumbles that made her the No. 1! The sight of the freshman phenom sidelined so early in her collegiate career was a gut punch for Red Rocks fans. But this week, for the South Jordan native Avery Neff, the scene looked entirely different.

No scooter. No casts. Just Neff, in her leotard, moving with the kind of freedom that suggests something big is on the horizon. Neff, who suffered an ankle injury on Jan. 17 during the final tumbling pass of her floor routine against Iowa State, has been out ever since. The awkward landing rattled Utah’s lineup and put a major question mark on her freshman season. But now, in a surprising twist, she might be back sooner than expected.

Utah head coach Carly Dockendorf has been careful with her words, not setting a specific return date, but her message is clear—Neff is progressing rapidly. Dockendorf said, “She is making really good progress… I’m not going to put a date on it, but I will tell you she is going to be back pretty soon.”

For a gymnast, the road back from an ankle injury is often long and uncertain. Tumbling, vaulting, and even dismounting from the bars can put extreme pressure on those small but crucial joints. And yet, Neff’s return appears to be unfolding at a remarkable pace. Dockendorf credits two key factors:

Neff’s sheer determination and Utah’s top-tier medical staff. “I think the combination of her determination, her discipline with all of the recovery stuff that she needs to do, she is doing 100% of everything she could possibly do,” Dockendorf emphasized. “And then honestly, a lot of credit needs to go to our athletic trainer and our medical staff.”

The training staff’s approach has been exhaustive, ensuring Neff gets the best shot at a full recovery without unnecessary risk. Aqua therapy, a staple in injury rehab, has played a major role in maintaining her conditioning while reducing stress on her healing ankles. But as Dockendorf pointed out, ankle sprains are person-specific, and recovery timelines aren’t universal. “With sprained ankles, there isn’t a definite timeline,” she explained. “It really is up to the individual.”

That’s why, when Neff does return, it won’t be a full-throttle comeback across all events. Instead, Dockendorf hinted that the uneven bars will likely be her first competition back since it’s the least demanding on the ankles. She added, “Bars would probably be the first event that we would see her back on. And the goal would be to add more events as we progress.”

The seven-time national champion’s talent is undeniable, and Utah Red Rocks’ could certainly use her firepower. More and more, though, it seems inevitable that she will compete again this season. But would that be at her health’s expense?

How soon is too soon for Avery Neff, hopefully not very

Fans, of course, are weighing in on Neff’s return. The Red Rocks fans are raising concerns about whether Utah might be prioritizing team success over long-term health. One Reddit user pointed out the unpredictability of ankle injuries: “Sprains take a looooong time to heal. I hope they aren’t rushing her, especially when she could just redshirt.” It’s a valid worry. Sprains are notorious for lingering if not fully healed, and redshirting would allow Neff to take a full year to recover without losing a season of eligibility.

Another user acknowledged Utah’s struggles but echoed the same concerns: “Utah seems to be hurting without her so I get the idea, but I really really hope nothing is being rushed to get her back ASAP.” Ever since Neff had to sit out after the Iowa State showing, Utah had only lost once against No. 2 Florida. Overall, they boast of a 7-4 record with .636 PCT. So, hopefully, they won’t lose this momentum and that’s the balancing act Dockendorf and the Utah medical team are playing—assessing just how much the team needs Neff versus how much she needs time.

Perhaps the most blunt take came from a fan who simply asked: “Dang, do they need her bars that badly?” If Utah’s main concern is plugging a gap in their lineup, rather than Neff’s overall wellbeing, then the decision to bring her back quickly could be a questionable one. While this Neff fan just hoped for the best, “I hope she isnt being rushed back.”

And much like the fan, we too hope for Neff’s recovery. When do you think the gymnast should be back? Let us know in the comments.