BACKGROUND: A three-star defensive end recruit, Jefferson was just 200 pounds as a high school junior and was recruited as an edge rusher, choosing Maryland over Iowa, Wisconsin and hometown Pitt. He served as a back-up true freshman in 2012, tallying 13 tackles. Jefferson earned a starting job in 2013 as a defensive end in the Terps’ 3-4 scheme, recording 47 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks and one forced fumble. He started the first three games of the 2014 season before an injury ended his season, taking a medical redshirt year. Jefferson returned in 2015 and started all 12 games at defensive tackle, recording 39 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and one forced fumble to earn All-Big Ten Honorable Mention honors. He chose to skip his senior season and enter the 2016 NFL Draft. Jefferson accepted his invitation to the 2016 Senior Bowl.
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STRENGTHS: Flexible mover with the first step quickness to convert his momentum to power, staying low and driving his legs…shoots gaps with burst and snap anticipation to shave blocks…dips his shoulder with a rip move to leverage leaky holes on the offensive line…functional length with active hands to grab, pull and keep blockers guessing…backside chase skills with an adequate motor…meaty thighs and has done a nice job distributing weight throughout his frame…driven by family and has his priorities straight – married (Nadia Jackson) with three young daughters…considered a team leader by his coaches…one career block on special teams coverages…versatile experience in both even and odd fronts, producing respectable numbers (21.0 tackles for loss in 28 career starts).
WEAKNESSES: Long legged with high hips, causing him to pop upright at times…quick to lose blocking leverage after his initial move…can be washed out of the hole and struggles to re-anchor his base – easily moved by doubles…slows once engaged with inconsistent push…too easily walled off from run lanes with streaky ball awareness…stays glued to blocks and needs to better separate, lacking the shed instincts to get himself clean…needs to clean up his move-to-move transition as a pass rusher…cut too easily an doesn’t protect his legs…marginal change of direction skills to answer counters or false steps…medical evaluations need approved by the doctors, missing most of the 2014 season due to a torn ACL in his right knee (Sept. 2014) – left the Senior Bowl early due to a minor back injury.
SUMMARY: A two-year starter, Jefferson started as a defensive end as a sophomore before moving inside as a junior in 2015, finishing among the team leaders in tackles for loss and sacks – takes a business-like approach to the field because it is more than a game due to his family dynamic. He has a basketball background and moves well for a 290+ pounder, showing the early quickness to launch off the line of scrimmage and infiltrate the backfield. But Jefferson gets himself in trouble when he allows his pads to rise and base to narrow, allowing offenses to successfully run at him. Although his effectiveness drops if he doesn’t win with quickness off the snap, Jefferson has the athletic traits and workable frame to be a quality three-technique in a defensive line rotation.
