Van Jefferson

Vanchi LaShawn Jefferson Jr. (born July 26, 1996) is an American football wide receiver for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Ole Miss and Florida and was drafted by the Rams in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Van Jefferson
Jefferson with the Los Angeles Rams in 2020
No. 12 – Los Angeles Rams
Position:Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (1996-07-26) July 26, 1996
Jacksonville, Florida
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High school:Ravenwood High School (Brentwood, Tennessee)
College:Florida
NFL Draft:2020 / Round: 2 / Pick: 57
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career NFL statistics as of 2020
Receptions:19
Receiving yards:220
Receiving touchdowns:1
Player stats at NFL.com

Early life and high school

Born in Jacksonville, Florida, Jefferson grew up in Brentwood, Tennessee and attended Ravenwood High School.[1] As a junior, he caught 87 passes for 1,251 yards and 14 touchdowns. He was named first team All-State after recording 67 receptions for 1,223 yards and 13 touchdowns and initially committed to play college football at Georgia.[2] Jefferson de-committed from Georgia in January of his senior year and ultimately signed to play at Ole Miss.[3]

College career

Jefferson redshirted his true freshman season. He had 49 catches for 543 yards and three touchdowns as a redshirt freshman.[4][5] Jefferson finished his redshirt sophomore season with 42 receptions for 456 yards and one touchdown.[6] Following the end of the season Jefferson announced his intent to transfer from Ole Miss after the program was sanctioned by the NCAA, ultimately choosing to continue his collegiate career at Florida.[7]

Jefferson was granted immediate eligibility to play for Florida after transferring after receiving waivers from the NCAA and the Southeastern Conference (SEC).[8] In his first season with the Gators he led the team with 35 receptions, 503 receiving yards, and six touchdown receptions.[9] As a senior, He caught 49 passes for 657 yards and six touchdowns.[10] He caught six passes for 129 yards against Virginia in the 2019 Orange Bowl, his final career game.[11] Jefferson finished his collegiate career with 175 receptions for 2,159 yards and 16 touchdowns in 45 games played.[12]

Professional career
Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand size
6 ft 1 1⁄2 in
(1.87 m)		 200 lb
(91 kg)		 32 3⁄4 in
(0.83 m)		 9 1⁄8 in
(0.23 m)
All values from NFL Combine

Jefferson was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the second round with the 57th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.[13] The Rams previously traded wide receiver Brandin Cooks to the Houston Texans to acquire the pick.[14] In Week 11, against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he recorded his first professional receiving touchdown.[15]

In the Divisional Round of the playoffs against the Green Bay Packers, Jefferson recorded 6 catches for 46 yards and his first playoff touchdown during the 32–18 loss.[16]

Personal life

Jefferson is the son of NFL coach and former wide receiver Shawn Jefferson.[17] He has a daughter, born 2016, with an old high school girlfriend.[18]

References
  1. "Ravenwood's Van Jefferson commits to Ole Miss". The Tennessean. January 25, 2015. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  2. "Ravenwood's Van Jefferson decommits from Georgia". USATodayHSS.com. January 20, 2015. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  3. Blevins, Riley (January 25, 2015). "Nation's No. 11 WR Jefferson commits to Ole Miss". Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  4. Sallee, Barrett (August 13, 2018). "SEC rules former Ole Miss WR Van Jefferson eligible to play for Florida in 2018". CBSSports.com. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  5. Potter, Davis (December 5, 2016). "Ole Miss receiver Damore'ea Stringfellow declares for NFL Draft". The Oxford Eagle. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  6. Young, Ryan (December 19, 2017). "Insight into WR Van Jefferson's decision to transfer from Ole Miss to Florida". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  7. Aschoff, Edward (December 19, 2017). "Ole Miss WR Van Jefferson transferring to Florida". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  8. Rittenberg, Adam (August 13, 2018). "Gators WR Van Jefferson eligible to play in 2018". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  9. Redman, Bob (August 26, 2019). "Jefferson's move to gunner paid off quickly". 247Sports.com. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  10. Marsdale, Sam (January 22, 2020). "Van Jefferson impresses at Day 1 of Senior Bowl practice". 247Sports.com. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  11. Goodall, Zach (January 30, 2020). "Van Jefferson Considered "Second-Third Round" NFL Draft Prospect". SI.com. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  12. Guregian, Karen (April 17, 2020). "10 potential Patriots draft picks: Florida WR Van Jefferson". Boston Herald. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  13. Marsdale, Sam (April 24, 2020). "Van Jefferson pick No. 57 to Rams in 2020 NFL Draft". 247 Sports. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  14. "2020 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  15. "Los Angeles Rams at Tampa Bay Buccaneers - November 23rd, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  16. "Divisional Round - Los Angeles Rams at Green Bay Packers - January 16th, 2021". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  17. Sammon, Will (August 10, 2018). "'He had to overcome being my son': How Van Jefferson forged his own path outside the shadow of his NFL father". The Athletic. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  18. Boclair, David (September 21, 2018). "Jefferson focused on family, football in return to Tennessee". Nashville Post. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
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