Recruit Snapshot: Amari Jefferson
Football has so many things that determine the results of games. Coaching schemes, individual matchups, weight room work, and film study to name a few. Perhaps the most fun factor, however, is when a player simply is able to create game breaking plays, seemingly at will. Amari Jefferson, wide receiver at Baylor School (Chattanooga, TN) and Alabama commit, is one of those players. A do it all receiver with a knack for blowing games wide open, Jefferson is one of the most exciting players to watch in the state of Tennessee this year.
Professional Playmaker
Jefferson has good size for a receiver, coming in at 6’1” and 205 pounds. He has speed to run by corners, strength to play through physical coverage and break tackles, and size and leaping ability to be a red zone threat. In short, everything an offense could want Jefferson to be good at, he is. Jefferson runs good routes, blocks for his backs well, and is a weapon at every level of the passing game. While Jefferson is dangerous on screen passes with his quickness to avoid tackles and his strength to run through and break them, as well as with his routes and abilities to feel and react to coverages in the intermediate passing game, Jefferson shines best going deep.
Against McCallie, Jefferson had two TDs and well over 100 receiving yards against one of the best defenses in the state, and one of the best corners, his childhood friend and Virginia Tech commit Marcellus Barnes Jr. of McCallie for much of the night. Jefferson showed his ability to get open deep down the field repeatedly. There is simply no good way to defend Jefferson, as he can benefit from quarterback Whit Muschamp’s excellent accuracy to use his speed and ability as a ball carrier to turn unremarkable throws into big plays, or feed a corner a double move to open up a chunk play.
Big Plays in Big Moments
When Baylor needed Jefferson the most, he always rose to the occasion, whether moving the chains on multiple third downs, a 55 yard touchdown reception to give Baylor the lead, a 64 yard reception to put Baylor in the red zone needing to answer, or an 11 yard fade route to finish the drive and give Baylor the lead again, Jefferson made the biggest plays when they were most needed. Despite McCallie coming out victorious, Jefferson did his part to give his team the best chance to win. That kind of determination and ability to deliver when everyone in the stadium knows who is getting the ball is one of the areas that truly separates players like Jefferson from everyone else. Jefferson expects to make those plays. He has put in the time, trusts his teammates, and his skills enough to want the ball in those huge moments. That kind of attitude can’t be taught, a player just has it, or they don’t. Jefferson has it in spades.
Next In Line
Jefferson chose to continue his football and baseball career with Alabama, in large part because of his respect for Nick Saban and the way Saban has run his program. Jefferson also sees an opportunity to be the next in a line of excellent receivers to play for Saban and the Tide. Names like Julio Jones, Amari Cooper, Jerry Jeudy, Jaylen Waddle, and DeVonta Smith have given Alabama one of the most impressive groups of receivers in recent memory. A player like Jefferson, with his immense talents has to recognize the opportunity to join that group. Jefferson also has the rare chance to arrive in Tuscaloosa and contribute early. The Tide have struggled throwing the ball in 2023, and the receivers have had a particularly difficult campaign to this point. Jefferson has the opportunity to make an early impact for Alabama, while filling a position of need for the Tide as a freshman.
