With the 57th overall pick in the second round, the Los Angeles Rams selected Van Jefferson.
Jefferson is considered to be one of the most pro-ready players the Gators had to offer in the draft this year. The 6-1 receiver has elite route running skills and has experience playing all three receiver positions during his time in college.
Jefferson came to Florida via transfer from Ole Miss and made an immediate impact. Granted immediate eligibility he led the Gators in catches (35), yards (503) and touchdowns (6). He returned to Florida for his redshirt senior season in 2019 and once again led the Gators in receptions (49) and yards (657) with another six touchdowns. Over his career Jefferson hauled in 175 passes for 2,159 yards.
2019: Started all 13 games, leading the Gators with 657 yards on 49 catches (13.4 avg.) and six touchdowns… Set new career highs in three different categories; eight receptions at LSU, 129 yards against Virginia and a 69-yard catch vs. UT-Martin.
2018: Played in and started all 13 games… Led the Gators in receptions (35), receiving yards (503), receiving touchdowns (six) and average yards per game (38.7)… His six touchdown receptions tied Solomon Patton (2013) for the third-highest season total by a Gator since 2009… Returned three punts for 17 yards with a long of nine… Ranked fourth on the team in points score (36) and all-purpose yards (520)… Scored a pair of touchdowns against Charleston Southern in the season opener with four catches for 34 yards and two scores… Only Gators receiver during the season to grab multiple touchdowns in a single game and tally three games with at least 50 receiving yards… Totaled four grabs for 92 yards and a touchdown at Florida State… Completed a pass for negative-three yards to Feleipe Franks in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on a trick play.
2017 (Ole Miss): Appeared in 10 games and started at slot receiver in the first three games of the season… Finished second on the team with 42 receptions… Recorded 456 receiving yards and one TD… Had his best game of the season at Cal when he hauled in a career-high 10 catches for 94 yards… Was Ole Miss’s second-leading receiver at No. 12 Auburn with 89 yards off eight catches…Recorded his first and only touchdown of the season at Kentucky… Named Preseason All-SEC fourth team.
2016 (Ole Miss): Garnered Freshman All-America Third Team honors as an All-Purpose player from Athlon… Earned First Team Freshman All-SEC accolades from the league’s coaches and Gridiron Now… Captured Second Team All-SEC honors from Athlon… Finished second on team with 49 catches, third with 543 receiving yards and caught three TD passes… Returned four punts for 11 yards and rushed five times for 40 yards on the season… Ranked second among SEC freshmen with 4.1 catches/game and third with 45.2 receiving ypg… Started each game throughout the season at slot receiver… In his collegiate debut against Florida State, he recorded two catches for 23 yards and a 20-yard touchdown… Had six catches for 9a yards against No. 1 Alabama… Grabbed a team-high seven passes for 79 yards against Memphis.
2015 (Ole Miss): Did not see action and was redshirted.