Jefferson Takes Less-Is-More Approach to Help Gators

Cece Jefferson slimmed down in the offseason to improve his speed and agility. (Photo: Tim Casey/UAA Communications)

Jefferson Takes Less-Is-More Approach to Help Gators

Tuesday, August 23, 2016 | Football, Scott Carter

Sophomore has slimmed down to use speed advantage against bigger O-linemen.

By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Tyler Jordan needed no introduction to his new teammate when he joined the Florida football program in the summer of 2015.

Jordan could recognize the wide shoulders, brawny build and familiar grin from 50 yards away. He had seen Cece Jefferson up close many times during his time at Bishop Kenny High in Jacksonville. One of Bishop Kenny's top rivals was district foe Baker County High, where Jefferson starred.

On at least one Friday night of the prep season, Jordan and Jefferson shared opposite sidelines and plenty of shoves.

"First time we played them was my sophomore year of high school,'' Jordan said. "Nobody knew who I was and he was really hyped up. My coaches were like, 'you better make sure you block him.' I came out and played pretty well against him, and then every year we would go back and forth against each other.

"We were pretty good friends by our senior year."

Jordan and Jefferson continued their head-to-head battles at practice last season as UF freshmen, Jordan an offensive lineman and Jefferson on the defensive line. Both made an impact in their first season and are projected to play even bigger roles as sophomores.

The 6-foot-4, 292-pound Jordan has noticed a change in Jefferson, who has slimmed down to 265 pounds with plans to build back up to 275 to withstand the grind of mammoth SEC offensive linemen leaning on him as Jefferson makes a transition to playing more on the interior line as opposed to defensive end.

"He's become more of a high-motor guy,'' Jordan said. "He has gotten a lot stronger. I can tell from just blocking him man-on-man. He's got a lot better hands. He can get his hand placement on me and I just have to get right back on him."

The origin of Jefferson's physical transformation was a shoulder injury that required surgery and forced him to miss most of his senior season. The inactivity led to a puffy Jefferson – he estimates he has lost 30 pounds since -- showing up at UF. Still, Jefferson had a productive freshman season, registering 29 tackles and 8.5 tackles for loss.

Jefferson got better each game and earned SEC All-Freshman Team honors from the league's coaches. He hopes less of him equals more production for the Gators in Year 2.

31833 — Cece Jefferson taking on a block against Georgia last season. (Photo: Jay Metz/For UAA Communications)

"I was a juicy little kid,'' said Jefferson, who now follows a nutrition plan and has developed healthier habits. "I definitely lost a lot of fat. The way we practice, I have no other choice but to drop five or six pounds. You don't need all that Hydroxycut I see on TV. You don't need any of that. Come practice with us and you can lose as much weight as you want."

Jefferson's weight loss – he said his lowest weight was 258 in college – is a plus-minus equation in head coach Jim McElwain's view. The plus is a quicker, more agile Jefferson. The minus is he will be at a weight disadvantage on the interior line.

"This is a concern with him hovering in that [265 to 270] range,'' McElwain said. "The one unique thing about him a little bit is the natural strength he has. He's got some real natural strength and suddenness that helps him on the inside. On the flip side of that, when you get those big, big guys leaning on you, especially on the double teams, that is a little bit of a concern and yet he has done an unbelievable job with his quickness and his ability to split some of those double teams in learning.

"He's still going to do some things on the outside, but for us, the importance of him from a depth standpoint and being able to rotate different guys versus the offenses we'll see. He's having a great camp. I'm really excited where he is and has come."

Jefferson has accepted a role very similar to the one filled by Jonathan Bullard during his time at UF. Bullard was used at defensive end and defensive tackle throughout much of his career and blossomed into a third-round pick of the Bears.

If that is what it takes for the Gators to win, Jefferson said sign him up.

"I have definitely embraced it,'' he said. "I'm not hesitant at all. The most challenging aspect is the double teams. It ain't fun."

What is fun, at least for defensive coordinator Geoff Collins, is the way Jefferson has improved his football IQ since a season ago. Jefferson relied mostly on his natural ability to make plays as a freshman.

Jefferson is now more knowledgeable about the defense and credits Bullard's veteran leadership a season ago with helping his approach. Collins can tell a difference.

"Making plays within the framework of the defense,'' Collins said. "We've moved him around a bunch. He's played the rush for us. He's played the end. At times played him like we did with Jonathan Bullard, played him on the inside. I think he can be a force as long as the effort is there, the technique is there."

What does offensive lineman Martez Ivey, a sophomore who came in with Jordan and Jefferson a year ago, think about Jefferson's skills on the interior line compared to the outside.

"He's still Cece,'' Ivey said. "He can blow you up and run past you. He is a great player."

"I've definitely been taking a lot of notes,'' Jefferson said. "I feel like this has been my best camp. I feel like it's easier than the outside. I feel like I'm quicker than most guards. I have that advantage over them pass-rush wise. The way our linebackers play, once I get that double team, I know I don't have to hold it long because Jarrad Davis is flying through that hole to kill somebody. I know one of the two guys have to come off and account for him. He makes my job easier."

For Jordan, who played center and both guard spots as a freshman, he has seen Jefferson a lot during camp. Face to face on occasion.

Jefferson may have slimmed down and moved to the inside, but their one-on-one matchups remind Jordan of those Bishop Kenny-Baker County contests in high school.

"He comes at me with how he is going to put me on my butt like in high school,'' Jordan said. "And I'll come right back at him. It's just been fun."