Malik Jefferson

A three-year starter at Texas, Jefferson moved from a traditional MIKE linebacker position under Charlie Strong to a hybrid “Rover” linebacker this past season in defensive coordinator Todd Orlando’s multiple scheme. He is a see-ball, get-ball linebacker and a guesser – when he guesses correctly or has a clear runway, it looks like coaching tape, but when he guesses wrong, it negates his athleticism and leads to positive plays for the offense, which happens far too frequently on his game film. He also needs to upgrade his finishing skills, but violence and effort aren’t concerns. Overall, Jefferson has NFL-level athleticism and an attacking mindset, but he attacks before diagnosing and needs space to be effective, allowing him to think less and run more – has starting NFL potential, but requires simplified reads to allow his best traits (speed and aggressiveness) to shine. BACKGROUND A five-star linebacker recruit out of high school, Malik Jefferson was named the 2014 Butkus Award winner as the nation’s top high school linebacker and was considered the top linebacker recruit nationally by several services. He narrowed his college choice to Texas, Texas A&M and UCLA before choosing the Longhorns, giving Charlie Strong his first signature recruit as head coach at Texas. Jefferson enrolled early in Austin and became a true freshman starter, posting 61 tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and three pass break-ups in 2015 to earn Freshman All-American and Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year honors. His sophomore season was near identical to his freshman campaign, finishing with 62 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks over nine starts. Jefferson had his best season as a junior, becoming the fifth player in Texas history to earn Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors. He recorded a team-best 110 tackles and 10 tackles for loss, earning First Team All-Big 12 honors.

physical downhill and fills with intensity. competes with disregard for his body, throwing himself towards the ballcarrier. fearless, vicious tackler with strong fingers, hands and wrists to make off-balanced stops. boasts the athletic traits that translate well into coverage. every down player at texas and experienced on special teams coverages. productive resume with 233 career tackles. – dane brugler 12/12/2017

WEAKNESSES

strengths

Explosive mover, both initially and as a finisher. Field fast to cover a lot of green and play both sidelines. Balanced feet and flexible hips to transfer his weight and smoothly stay in stride. Athletic reflexes to find and skirt pulling blockers in the hole.

marginal instincts. takes too many false steps and often sees what the offense wants him to see – overaggressive and smart ballcarriers and play-callers know it, setting him up. inconsistent backfield vision, flowing with the action instead of anticipating or tracking the football. impatient and takes himself out of plays, vacating gaps and attacking before reading – gets killed on cutback runs due to his tendency to overpursue. take-on technique doesn’t match his intentions.

Too often lost among the trash and washed out in the trenches. Inexperienced in coverage and late to recognize route combinations. Physical tackler, but lacks consistency due to streaky wrap-up mechanics. Narrow shoulders and lacks ideal length for the position. Missed games each of his three collegiate seasons due to injuries, including sitting out the 2017 Texas Bowl due to turf toe (Dec. 2017) – missed two games as a sophomore due to a concussion (Nov. 2016) and two games as a freshman with a left ankle injury (Nov. 2015). – Dane Brugler 12/12/17

Coached by Kody Groves at Mesquite Poteet High School. An All-America and two-time all-state honoree

selected to participate in the 2015 Under Armour All-America Game

invited to participate in Nike’s 2014 The Opening

chosen as the 2014 High School Butkus Award winner as the nation’s top high school linebacker

finalist for the 2014 Landry Award, honoring the top high school player in North Texas

named first-team All-America by Parade Magazine in 2014

tabbed first-team 5A All-State by the Texas Sports Writers Association, honorable mention by the Associated Press. Picked Texas Defensive Player of the Year and to the All-USA Texas Team by USA Today

selected first-team All-Area by the Dallas Morning News

tabbed unanimous first-team All-District 12-5A

chosen first-team All-Texas, District 12-5A MVP and No. 1 LB in the state by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football

rated No. 4 (No. 1 OLB) nationally and No. 1 in Texas by Scout

ranked No. 12 (No. 1 OLB) nationally and No. 1 in Texas by 247Sports

rated No. 28 (No. 1 OLB) nationally and No. 2 overall in Texas by Rivals Ranked No. 31 (No. 3 OLB) nationally and No. 5 in Texas by ESPN

placed No. 1 on the Fab 55 by the Austin American-Statesman

despite missing more than two games due to injury, along with three other second halves where the starters were removed, still recorded 81 tackles, including six sacks and 16 tackles for loss, along with two forced fumbles and four blocked kicks as a senior.. Chosen Defensive Player of the Week by the Dallas Morning News after posting five tackles, one for a loss, one fumble recovery, one caused safety, a 15-yard blocked punt return for TD and 41-yard fumble return for TD in a 36-0 playoff win over Woodrow Wilson

blocked a punt that fellow UT signee DeAndre McNeal returned 36 yards for a TD against Royse City

helped Poteet to a 10-2 record, including a 7-0 district mark and an appearance in the 5A Division 2 area playoffs in 2014

chosen 2014 preseason Defensive Player of the Year and first-team Super Team by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football

tabbed first-team Junior All-America by MaxPreps in 2013

selected honorable mention 4A All-State by the Associated Press and Texas Sports Writers Association

selected first-team All-Area by the Dallas Morning News

chosen Defensive MVP and first-team All-District 10-4A

recorded 93 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 14 sacks, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries as a junior

part of a defense that held nine opponents to 20 points or fewer. Blocked a punt against Wylie

recovered an onside kick against Whitehouse

recorded two sacks against West Mesquite

helped Poteet to a 12-2 record, including a 6-1 district mark and an appearance in the 4A Division 2 quarterfinals in 2013

named first-team All-Area by the Dallas Morning News in 2012

tabbed Sophomore of the Year in District 10-4A as a defensive back

tallied 105 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, seven sacks, five forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, five pass breakups and four blocked kicks as a sophomore

helped Poteet to a 11-3 record, including a 5-2 district mark and an appearance in the 4A Division 2 quarterfinals in 2012

registered 105 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, seven sacks, five forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries as a sophomore

also played baseball and competed in track and field.

2017

defensive
TFL	QB HUR	TOT	TD	PD	SACKS	SOLO
10.0	5.0	110.0	0.0	0.0	4.0	79.0

2016

defensive
TFL	QB HUR	TOT	TD	PD	SACKS	SOLO
8.5	3.0	59.0	0.0	2.0	5.5	43.0