After making an announcement Saturday afternoon, Alabama Crimson Tide inside linebacker Justin Jefferson will officially return to Tuscaloosa for the 2025 season.
Jefferson will be utilizing his extra year of eligibility from having started his career in junior college, the same as Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia.
A member of Alabama’s 2023 recruiting class, Jefferson has spent each of the last two seasons in Tuscaloosa where he has made a combined 64 tackles, seven TFL, two sacks, one PD, and two forced fumbles. The majority of that came in 2024 as a senior in which Jefferson had a breakout campaign with 60 tackles, seven TFL, two sacks, one PD, and one forced fumble.
With the return of Jefferson, Alabama’s inside linebacker room will once again have a notable amount of experience, even despite having lost starter Jihaad Campbell to the NFL. Jefferson will feature alongside Colorado transfer Nikhai Hill-Green as potential starters, but that could change if Deontae Lawson decides to come back next season as well.
Let’s Roll! ✊🙌@JustinJ1_ pic.twitter.com/z5alYSxinB
— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) January 4, 2025