LB Justin Jefferson (6-2 215) of Memphis and Pearl River JC in Mississippi did not have the grades to go directly to a major program out of high school. He played last season at Pearl River and made 53 tackles with three sacks in nine games. USC linebacker coach and defensive coordinator Clayton White reviewed the film and checked out his spring practice and saw enough to offer Jefferson Saturday.
“Me and coach hit it off immediately,” Jefferson said. “We are about from the same area, and we’ve just been talking. I really appreciate coach and our relationship is real good. I really appreciate all of the South Carolina staff for taking their time to watch my film.”
The Gamecocks have already created a spot for themselves with Jefferson as he moves forward with his recruiting and he hopes to visit this summer, possibly on an official visit.
“I like South Carolina,” Jefferson said. “They have great athletics and a great program. They are great in academics. I like South Carolina. It’s real nice.”
White apparently likes Jefferson a lot as well and sees him as someone who would be a good fit in his defensive scheme.
“Every coach says they like my speed and hitting ability, just me as a whole,” Jefferson said. “South Carolina runs a 4-2-5, a run, hit smash-mouth ball and I like it, I really do.”
The bigger schools are just now starting catch up with Jefferson, and he’s recently added offers from Florida, Virginia Tech and Colorado State, along with Arkansas State, Charlotte, ULM, ULL and Jacksonville State.
“My list is really vague right now because I just finished my first year of spring ball, so I’ve just started my recruiting process as a whole,” Jefferson. “I really like South Carolina. South Carolina is in the SEC, so that holds a lot of weight. And the relationship I have with Coach White, I love him as a person. South Carolina will be up there when I have an official list.”
Jefferson said right now his plan is to wait until after the season to make a decision because he wants to see how things play out with his recruiting over the next several months.
“The season is going to be a massacre,” Jefferson said. “I’m going to absolutely destroy some people. I might get some bigger offers. I know the season is going to be really big for me and I’m just waiting until the end.”
