One name that has generated a lot of buzz leading up to this college football season is Texas Longhorns outside linebacker Malik Jefferson. Matt Brown of Sports On Earth is the latest to rave about the youngster’s talent and star potential.
“Jefferson steps into a perfect opportunity as a true freshman. A five-star recruit, he joins a Texas defense that loses seven starters but was excellent last year, despite the Longhorns’ problems overall,” Brown writes.
“Charlie Strong is one of the best defensive coaches in the country, and Jefferson will join a new-look linebacking corps that lost Jordan Hicks and Steve Edmond. He enrolled early, and he lived up to the hype in spring ball, making plays all over the field. He’s a phenomenal athlete for the position, and it shouldn’t take long for him to thrive.”
That’s big talk for someone who hasn’t played a down of regular season college football yet, but it’s also hard to argue with Brown’s logic.
A product of Poteet High School in Mesquite, Texas, Jefferson has excellent size for his position at 6-foot-3, 222 pounds and should have plenty of speed and power added once he fills out a bit more. He also received offers from LSU, Alabama, Ole Miss, Ohio State, Notre Dame and others, the mentioned schools all being known for having hard-hitting defenses.
Just how much of an impact Jefferson will make as a freshman remains to be seen but if what Brown says is true, Longhorns football could definitely be back on the road to greatness.
Texas opens the 2015 season on the road against Notre Dame on September 5.
Can’t get enough of Campus Sports? Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to stay updated with the latest news and exclusive giveaways!
*Featured Photo (above) credit to SB Nation
