Auburn, others pursue Jefferson
Asked what makes him a standout at defensive end, Larry Jefferson, a class of 2012 player from College Park (Ga.) Banneker, didn't need time to digest the question.
"Because I'm fast," Jefferson said.
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The 6-foot-4, 218-pounder isn't kidding. A member of the Banneker track and field team, he competes in both the 200 and 400 meters. His best 200 time is 23.0 seconds.
That speed has given Jefferson a distinct advantage on the football field. A two-year starter, he recorded six sacks in 2010 and has drawn attention from several college programs from BCS conferences.
"Oh man, I'm hearing from a bunch of schools," Jefferson said. "Everyone in the SEC. Some from the Pac-10. I've got Oklahoma State. It's a lot. Everyone is really recruiting me hard."
Not all schools like him at defensive end. Some envision Jefferson as a tight end, a spot at which he recorded 15 receptions last fall.
"I think I'm pretty good at both," Jefferson said. "I'm not as good as I want to be, but I'm good. I need to work on a little bit of everything."
Thus far, only one team has offered - Auburn. The Tigers, who have former Banneker players [receiver] Shaun Kitchens and [safety] Demetruce McNeal on their roster, did so last summer, not long after Jefferson attended camp there.
Who might be next to offer?
"I think it will probably be Virginia Tech," Jefferson said. "Their DBs coach [Torrian Gray], he's come up here twice. They're just waiting for me to finish up some of these grades and hopefully they're going to offer me."
According to Jefferson, Auburn is among those who project him at tight end. Georgia, meantime, is in the camp that picture Jefferson on defense.
"At Georgia, they run that 3-4 [defense], where they rush a lineman," Jefferson said. "If I went to Georgia, I'd probably play that."
In the immediate future, Jefferson plans on attending junior days at Clemson and Georgia. He also has junior day invites from programs such as Florida and Georgia Tech, but is still deciding which other ones he will check out.
Regarding his recruitment, Jefferson is in no rush to make any decisions.
"Every school is the same right now," he said. "I won't know where I'm going until signing day."