Jermar Jefferson

American football player (born 2000)

American football player
Jermar Jefferson
No. 39 – Detroit Lions
Position:Running back
Personal information
Born: (2000-04-15) April 15, 2000 (age 24)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Height:5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:215 lb (98 kg)
Career information
High school:Narbonne
(Harbor City, CA)
College:Oregon State (2018–2020)
NFL draft:2021 / Round: 7 / Pick: 257
Career history
  • Detroit Lions (2021–present)
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Rushing attempts:15
Rushing yards:74
Rushing touchdowns:2
Receptions:4
Receiving yards:23
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Jermar Jefferson (born April 15, 2000) is an American football running back for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Oregon State and was drafted by the Lions in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL Draft.[1][2][3]

Early years

Jefferson initially attended high school at Redondo Union High School in Redondo Beach, California, before transferring to Narbonne High School in Harbor City, California in his senior year.[4] Jefferson received an offer from and committed to Oregon State University in his senior year, while also receiving an offer to play football at the University of Southern California.[5] Jefferson enrolled at OSU in 2018.

College career

Jefferson became the school's starting running back as a true freshman in 2018 and rushed for 238 yards in his second game, a 48–25 win against Southern Utah. Three weeks later, he rushed for a career-high 254 yards in a 52–24 loss to Arizona State.[6] Through the first six games of his freshman season, Jefferson ranked third among all Division I FBS players with 865 rushing yards.[7] Jefferson ended the season with twelve touchdown runs, 1,380 rushing yards, and was named Pac-12 freshman offensive player of the year.[5]

Jefferson returned to the Beavers for his sophomore season in 2019.[8] He rushed for 685 yards and eight touchdowns in his sophomore year.[9]

Jefferson returned to the Beavers for his junior season in 2020. He finished with 858 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns in just six games.[10] After the season, he decided to forgo his senior year and enter the 2021 NFL Draft.[11]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
5 ft 10+1⁄8 in
(1.78 m) 		206 lb
(93 kg) 		30+1⁄2 in
(0.77 m) 		9+5⁄8 in
(0.24 m)		 4.60 s 1.59 s 2.70 s 4.39 s 7.39 s 31.0 in
(0.79 m)		 9 ft 7 in
(2.92 m)		 13 reps
All values from Pro Day[12][13][14]

Jefferson was drafted in the seventh round, 257th overall, by the Detroit Lions in the 2021 NFL Draft.[15] He signed his four-year rookie contract on May 14, 2021.[16] On October 31, 2021, Jefferson scored his first career touchdown, an eight-yard rush in a blowout loss against the Philadelphia Eagles that proved to be the only points for the Lions in the 44-6 loss.[17] He appeared in seven games and recorded 15 carries for 74 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns in the 2021 season.[18]

On August 31, 2022, Jefferson was waived by the Lions and signed to the practice squad the next day.[19] He signed a reserve/future contract on January 9, 2023.[20]

On August 29, 2023, Jefferson was waived/injured by the Lions and placed on injured reserve.[21] He was released on September 6, 2023, with an injury settlement.[22] On October 24, 2023, the Lions signed Jefferson to their practice squad.[23] He signed a reserve/future contract on January 30, 2024.[24]

References

  1. ^ Lawson, Theo (October 4, 2018). "Oregon State's Jermar Jefferson leads new generation of running backs in Pac-12". The Seattle Times. The Seattle Times Company. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  2. ^ Daschel, Nick (October 2, 2018). "Oregon State freshman Jermar Jefferson driven by humility, work ethic". The Oregonian. Advance Publications. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  3. ^ Gress, Steve (October 10, 2018). "OSU football: Jefferson bursts on the scene for Beavers". Corvallis Gazette-Times. Lee Enterprises. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  4. ^ Sondheimer, Eirc (March 13, 2017). "Football: Redondo RB Jermar Jefferson transfers to Narbonne". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  5. ^ a b Harris, Jack (July 30, 2019). "Why are USC and UCLA losing more local recruits to Pac-12 rivals?". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  6. ^ "Jermar Jefferson Stats, News, Bio". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
  7. ^ "FBS (Division I-A) Statistics - 2018". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
  8. ^ Peterson, Anne M. (August 17, 2019). "Oregon State football still in rebuilding mode". The Columbian. Associated Press. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  9. ^ "Jermar Jefferson 2019 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  10. ^ "Jermar Jefferson 2020 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  11. ^ Slaughter, Brenden (December 24, 2020). "BeaversEdge - Jermar Jefferson Declares For 2021 NFL Draft". oregonstate.rivals.com. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  12. ^ "Jermar Jefferson Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  13. ^ "2021 Draft Scout Jermar Jefferson, Oregon State NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  14. ^ "Jermar Jefferson 2021 NFL Draft Profile". insider.espn.com. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  15. ^ Monarrez, Carlos (May 1, 2021). "Detroit Lions 7th-rounder Jermar Jefferson: I thought I'd be drafted in 3rd or 4th round". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  16. ^ Links, Zachary (May 14, 2021). "NFL Draft Signings: 5/14/21". Pro Football Rumors. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  17. ^ DeMara, Max (November 3, 2021). "Jermar Jefferson 'Had Chills' After First Ever Touchdown for Lions". Heavy.com. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  18. ^ "Jermar Jefferson 2021 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  19. ^ "Lions announce roster moves". DetroitLions.com. August 31, 2022. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  20. ^ Ulrich, Logan (January 9, 2023). "Lions Announce 10 Players Signed To Futures Deals". NFLTradeRumors.co. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  21. ^ "Lions announce roster moves". DetroitLions.com. August 29, 2023. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  22. ^ Ulrich, Logan (September 6, 2023). "Lions Cut RB Jermar Jefferson With Settlement". NFLTradeRumors.co. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  23. ^ https://x.com/lions/status/1716911262553239969?s=46&t=adwn3zD_FYGFt5rdVvEVzw [bare URL]
  24. ^ Schlitt, Erik (January 30, 2024). "Update: Detroit Lions sign 12 players to futures contracts". Pride Of Detroit. SB Nation. Retrieved April 19, 2024.

External links

  • Detroit Lions bio
  • Oregon State Beavers bio
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