Defense gets a boost with Jefferson’s return
Lineman could thrive in new role as senior next season.
GAINESVILLE — While Florida’s coaching staff looks to add some foundational pieces for new defensive coordinator Todd Grantham’s 3-4 scheme before national signing day, the most important recruiting job might be the one that became official Wednesday.
CeCe Jefferson announced on Twitter that he will return for his senior season, surely surprising a few Gators fans with the news.
“Senior year about to be one to remember! Road to Atlanta! Go Gators!” Jefferson wrote on Twitter.
Jefferson, who has played both outside and inside on the defensive line during his time at Florida, would figure to be very effective in the pass-rushing outside linebacker spot in a 3-4 defense.
He led the Gators with 13.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks in 2017, while also totaling 47 tackles and six quarterback hurries. But listed at 6-foot-1, 242 pounds, Jefferson projected as something of a tweener at the next level without ideal NFL defensive lineman size.
He must have liked what he heard from new Gators coach Dan Mullen and Grantham about the vision for the defense next fall and how he could play a starring role in it, and if he indeed slots in at outside linebacker, it’s easy to see him boosting his draft stock.
As for the Gators, while the coaching staff puts a priority on both the defensive line and linebacker spots over these next few weeks in recruiting, they may have already made the biggest splash they could in persuading Jefferson to stay for his senior season.
Florida’s linebackers struggled as a group in 2017, and while Mullen said the coaching staff would be flexible, it was hard to see the Gators pulling off a seamless transition from a 4-3 to a 3-4 with their personnel. Rising junior David Reese is an ideal interior 3-4 linebacker with his instincts and sure tackling, and it’s possible unknowns such as Ventrell Miller, James Houston (both suspended as freshmen all last fall) and Nick Smith (redshirted due to a knee injury) could emerge as impact contributors. Or veterans Vosean Joseph, Kylan Johnson and Jeremiah Moon could take another step in their development under the new coaching staff.
But Jefferson packs undeniable, ready-made star potential — and probably still untapped potential, especially if moved to the spotlight role of the 3-4 defense.
In that scheme, the defensive tackle and defensive ends are primarily supposed to occupy blockers, take up space and set the stage for their teammates to deliver big plays. The pass-rushing duties primarily fall to the outside linebackers, and Jefferson was the most logical of Florida’s existing DEs to make the transition.
While it hasn’t been announced that Jefferson will make that switch, it seems logical and likely an enticing reason for a guy to put off the NFL for another year.
Florida still has major needs to address in recruiting, especially on the defensive side, but it scored a major win with Jefferson’s announcement Wednesday night.
Seider appears to stay put: Florida updated the coaching roster on its official website Thursday, adding holdover Ja’Juan Seider to the list of recent hires while seeming to indicate that he will remain on staff moving forward.
No announcement has been made, but it had been widely expected that the Belle Glade native and former Glades Central standout would be retained beyond the transition period as Mullen assembled his coaching staff. The running backs coach is regarded as a strong in-state recruiter.