Van Jefferson

Transactions

Selected by the Rams in the second round (57th overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft (4/24/20).

NFL Career

• Has played in 33 regular season contests (17 starts) and recorded 69 catches for 1,022 yards and seven touchdowns.
• Appeared in six postseason contests in his first two years in the NFL and tallied 15 receptions for 148 yards and a touchdown.
• Had a breakout 2021 season starting all 17 games and hauling in 50 catches for 802 yards and six touchdowns.
• His 16.0 average yards per catch during the 2021 regular season ranked sixth in the NFL.
• Was third on the team in receptions (50) and second in receiving yards (802) during the 2021 campaign.
• Recorded four catches, one for a first down, in the Rams' Super Bowl LVI victory against the Bengals.
• Had two catches for 80 yards including a 67-yard touchdown reception in SoFi Stadium's first game with fans against the Chicago Bears on Sunday Night Football in Week 1 of the 2021 season.
• Tied his season-high with six catches for 90 yards and a touchdown in a Week 4 matchup against the Cardinals in 2021. Five of his six receptions were for first downs.
• Had four catches for 43 yards and a touchdown against Detroit followed by a performance on the road in Houston where he hauled in three catches for 88 yards in 2021.
• Recorded three straight weeks with a receiving touchdown (Weeks 12-14) during the 2021 campaign.
• Caught his first touchdown in a road victory against Tampa Bay in Week 11 of the 2020 season.
• Had 19 catches for 220 yards and a touchdown in his rookie campaign.
• Hauled in his first career catch on a 31-yard strike down the sideline. The catch ranks as the longest first-career reception made by a Ram since 2008 (D.Stanley, 80).

College

Appeared in 45 games in his collegiate career at Florida (23 games in 2018-19) and Ole Miss (22 games 2015-17). Jefferson finished his career with 2,159 yards on 175 receptions (12.3 avg.) and 16 touchdowns. In 2019 as a senior, he started all 13 games and led the Gators with 657 yards on 49 receptions (13.4 yards/reception) and six touchdowns. Jefferson set new career highs in three different categories; eight receptions at LSU, 129 yards against Virginia and a 69-yard catch vs. UT-Martin. In 2018, he started all 13 games in his first season at Florida and led the Gators in receptions (35), receiving yards (503), receiving touchdowns (six) and average yards per game (38.7). He ranked fourth on the team in points scored (36) and all-purpose yards (520). That season he became the only Gator receiver to grab multiple touchdowns in a single game and tally three games with at least 50 receiving yards. He also had a four-catch, 92-yard performance against Florida State. In 2017 during his final season at Ole Miss, Jefferson played 10 games, starting at slot receiver in the first three of the season. He finished second on the team with 42 receptions and recorded 456 receiving yards and one touchdown. He had his best game of the season at Cal when he hauled in a career-high 10 catches for 94 yards. In 2016 after his 2015 redshirt freshman season, he earned First Team Freshman All-SEC accolades from the league's coaches and Gridiron Now. He finished second on team with 49 catches, third with 543 receiving yards and caught three touchdown passes. Jefferson ranked second among SEC freshmen with 4.1 catches/game and third with 45.2 receiving yards per game. In his collegiate debut against Florida State, he recorded two catches for 23 yards and a 20-yard touchdown.

Personal

As a prep standout, Jefferson was selected to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl and Nike's The Opening camp after high school. He garnered Tennessee Sports Writers Association All-State and The Tennessean All-Midstate honors, after hauling in 67 catches for 1,223 yards and 13 touchdowns, helping lead Ravenwood to a 14-1 record and a Class 6A runner- up finish. He is the son of Shawn and Maria Jefferson. His father played 13 years in the NFL as a wide receiver and has coached in the NFL as a wide receivers coach for the Detroit Lions, Tennessee Titans, the Miami Dolphins and Jets. He is currently a receivers coach for the Arizona Cardinals.