Name: Jermar Jefferson 

School: Oregon State University 

Year:  Junior 

Position: Running Back 

Measurements:  5’9 215 

STATS:

General Info:  

Attended well known Narbonne High School in Los Angeles, CA. Started out at Redondo Union High School then transferred to Narbonne for his senior year. Lettered in track as well. His father Herb played football for Sonoma State. Started 9 games as a true freshman at OSU. Pac-12 Freshman Offensive Player of the Year. Rushed for 1,380 yards as a true freshman. Had two games over 230 yards. Scored 12 touchdowns. Only played in 9 games, starting 6 as a Sophomore in 2019. He missed time due to an ankle injury. Played in and started 6 games as a Junior in 2020. Pac-12 Season was shortened due to COVID. He did miss a couple games due to exposure. Still rushed for 858 yards in just 6 games. Rushed for 226 yards and 2 touchdowns against rival Oregon.  

Positional Skills:

Positives: 

He has good contact balance. The squatty running back is always driving his legs for extra yardage. Able to out run tacklers to the corner, he accelerates to top speed quick. Has good hands and gets up the field quickly after the catch. Jefferson has been used in the screen game. He has surprisingly good power for his size. The record setting running back also shows good vision to find the open gap if his initial gap is stuffed. Jermar uses a one cut and go move very well, he is a great fit for a zone blocking scheme that likes their running backs to make one cut and get up the field. Jefferson is able to squeeze through small gaps, also uses some subtle moves to get away from tacklers. He has a move when he is running by tacklers where he will kind of twists his body and leans away, allowing him to avoid their tackle attempt. The OSU running back does show the ability to pull away from tacklers at times and erase angles. He is 5’9 and built low to the ground, so it is hard for tacklers to get a straight shot on him to knock him back. Jefferson is a decent pass blocker. 

Negatives: 

Jefferson’s explosiveness is only average; it takes him a few steps to get going. While his speed is good; he lacks elite speed to be a consistent breakaway threat. He does not show much creativity with the ball in his hands, not the type of back to make you miss in a phone booth. Not a lot of production in the passing game at OSU. He was rarely used split out and only was used on basic running back routes like wheel routes and screens and such. Jefferson only has 43 career catches and 25 of those were in his freshman season. Interestingly enough you never see him try and use a stiff arm. His pass blocking skills are not NFL level yet. 

Fit with the Packers:

Jefferson would be a great fit with the Packers. He would be a compliment to AJ Dillon. Jefferson has a similar skill set for Aaron Jones. They have similar contact balance, good hands, good power for their size. Jones probably is a little bit more quick and agile while Jefferson might bring a little more power and drive. In Jones’ first three years at UTEP and Jefferson’s career at OSU they have the exact same amount of catches. So yes Jefferson will still need some development there but he definitely has the skills to do it and excel at it. Jermar is being underrated by most right now. He will probably go in the 3^rd-4^th range.