Tag: Justin Jefferson

Gators hosting final group of official visitors before dead period begins

The Florida Gators’ recruiting staff have had a busy month of June, but there is still one more group to host over the weekend before wrapping things up.

The month of June has been one of the busiest since the Billy Napier era began at the University of Florida. Elite prospects roamed the halls each weekend on official visits, and there’s still one more group to get through before the dead period begins on Monday, June 27.

Four-star offensive lineman [autotag]Roderick Kearney[/autotag], four-star wide receiver [autotag]Andy Jean[/autotag] and Pearl River C.C. transfer linebacker [autotag]Justin Jefferson[/autotag] make up the list of visitors, according to 247Sports. Three-star safety [autotag]Bryce Thornton[/autotag] is also scheduled to be in town this weekend on an unofficial visit.

Kearney is one of Florida’s top targets on the offensive line. He’s been to campus twice already this year, and the Gators even offered his friend and teammate a preferred walk-on spot as a sign of good faith. It’s down to Florida and FSU for the Jacksonville-area recruit, but he says he doesn’t want to rush a decision and will take likely things into the fall.

Jean is a former Miami commit that backed off the pledge in March after just two months. The Hurricanes are still in the mix, but Georgia and Texas A&M might be bigger threats for Florida. He’s from South Florida, though, so the Gators could stand to gain some favor with the in-state recruit over the weekend.

Jefferson picked up an offer from the Gators fairly early on in the spring and has since collected many more from SEC programs. He said that Florida was his leader after getting the offer, but things may have changed since then. Getting him on campus should get Florida a chance to get back on top of things in this recruitment.

A pair of five-stars from the class of 2024 will also be on campus over the weekend. Athlete [autotag]KJ Bolden[/autotag] and edge rusher [autotag]Eddrick Houston[/autotag] are names to watch, as is four-star athlete [autotag]KingJoseph Edwards[/autotag].

[mm-video type=video id=01g690r1hz48knf97hqh playlist_id=01eqbz250mdknqvm5z player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01g690r1hz48knf97hqh/01g690r1hz48knf97hqh-0791a34064f146739bc5ae95c3809f4d.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=86303,86300,86280,86272,86144]

[listicle id=86266]

[listicle id=86046]

Follow us @GatorsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.

Let us know your thoughts and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today!

CBS analyst predicts Justin Jefferson will have Cooper Kupp year

Even after a historically great season, we still may not have seen the best of Justin Jefferson.

After spending seven years in the NFL and winning a Super Bowl, former Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Bryant McFadden knows a thing or two about great receivers. So it’s nothing to take lightly when he’s singing the praises of Minnesota Vikings wideout Justin Jefferson.

Surprisingly, some are still overlooking Jefferson, despite him teaming up with head coach Kevin O’Connell—the same coach that helped take Cooper Kupp over the top to a near 2,000-yard season.

The Los Angeles Rams receiver took the league by storm by hauling in 145 receptions for 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns en route to winning Super Bowl LVI.

McFadden sees a similar season in store for Jefferson in what should be a much-improved Vikings offense.

“Justin Jefferson will have that Cooper Kupp-like role for the Minnesota Vikings,” McFadden said on CBS Sports. “I mean, heck, not being involved in that type of offense, he gave 1,600 yards a year ago.

“And with this offense, knowing how Kevin O’Connell will find a way to get his best pass-catcher open, this will be the new Cooper Kupp for the Minnesota Vikings, Justin Jefferson. And he will come through with the same dividends we saw from Cooper Kupp in a Rams uniform.”

McFadden is picking Jefferson to finish the season with the most receiving yards in 2022.

It’s easy to forget he came in second behind Kupp last season with 1,616 receiving yards with Mike Zimmer as his head coach. Now, he’ll be paired with the offensive mastermind that helped the Rams finally get over the hump.

Jefferson might not just match Kupp. He could surpass him.

[listicle id=64478]

Eagles’ A.J. Brown makes a list of the top-10 NFL wide receivers of 2022

Philadelphia Eagles’ star pass catcher A.J. Brown makes a list of the top-10 NFL wide receivers of 2022

Philadelphia said all the right things about supporting quarterback Jalen Hurts and then took the steps to add a dynamic weapon after trading for his best friend, former Titans wide receiver A.J. Brown.

Brown brings versatility, toughness, and the ability to dominate man-to-man coverage to an Eagles offense looking for more downfield passing opportunities.

CBS Sports ranked the top-10 wideouts in the NFL for the 2022 season using past production, present value, and future outlook to determine the best of the best.

Brown landed at No. 10 on the list behind Keenan Allen (9) and Deebo Samuel (8).

The Seahawks’ DK Metcalf, the top alternative here, gets all kinds of love for his freakish combo of imposing size and speed, but Brown has a similar profile with just as, if not more, consistent production. Lingering injuries are something to monitor, and his numbers aren’t always gaudy, but he’s a bona fide alpha, creating plays with both his bulk, power, and explosiveness. He’s also set up to succeed as the Eagles’ new No. 1, working alongside ascending pass catchers like DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert.

Brown is coming off an injury-plagued 2021 season that saw the former Titans draft pick log 63 catches for 869 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns.

Rounding out the list were Mike Evans (7), Tyreek Hill (6), Stefon Diggs (5), Cooper Kupp (4), Ja’Marr Chase (3), Justin Jefferson (2), and the Raiders’ newest star, Davante Adams at No. 1 overall.

[listicle id=667778]

[listicle id=667759]

[listicle id=667007]

[lawrence-related id=667753,667745,667732,667709,667684]

Emmanuel Acho snubs Justin Jefferson in top-5 WR rankings

Jefferson doesn’t even crack the top-five in Acho’s receiver rankings.

Justin Jefferson can’t please everyone.

The Minnesota Vikings star receiver only came in second behind Cooper Kupp for the most receiving yards (1,616) in the NFL in the 2021 season.

He also broke Odell Beckham Jr.’s record for most receiving yards in his first two seasons, along with coming within 17 yards of breaking Randy Moss’ single-season franchise touchdown record.

Despite all of those accolades over the course of a season, Jefferson still failed to make FOX Sports analyst Emmanuel Acho’s top-five receiver rankings.

It’s important to note that Acho prefaced his rankings on social media with a reminder that Arizona Cardinals receiver DeAndre Hopkins is missing because of his suspension.

So that likely means Jefferson wouldn’t even make Acho’s top-six list of receivers, if Hopkins was available.

Marcellus Wiley’s list definitely looks like the better of the two, even though it’s hard to envision any receiver rankings without Miami Dolphins wideout Tyreek Hill.

But from a Vikings perspective, it’s hard to imagine Jefferson’s position among the NFL’s elite even being questioned. Another year under his belt will bring about terrifying improvements.

And now, he’ll be playing under the thumb of a Super Bowl-winning head coach that served as the mastermind behind the offense that facilitated Los Angeles Rams receiver Cooper Kupp’s historically great season.

By the end of 2022, there may be no more questioning Jefferson.

[listicle id=64456]

Three Vikings named in CBS Sports’ ‘Top 100 NFL Players of 2022’

Three Vikings players crack CBS Sports’ top-100.

CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco dropped his rankings for the “Top 100 NFL Players of 2022” on Wednesday with three Minnesota Vikings players making the list.

It’s no surprise considering the Vikings were one of the most talented teams that underachieved in 2021. Of course, there’s legitimate hope that things will be different now that they’ve moved into the Kevin O’Connell era of coaching,

A big part of that success will rest on the shoulders of two-time All-Pro wideout Justin Jefferson, who cracked the top-15 at No. 13 in Prisco’s rankings. The former LSU Tiger has been everything the Vikings hoped he’d be when they selected him at No. 22 overall in the 2020 NFL draft.

With only two seasons under his belt, he’s already broken Odell Beckham Jr.’s record for most receiving yards in the first two years in the NFL.

He also came within 17 yards of surpassing Randy Moss and setting a new franchise record for most single-season receiving yards last season—108 catches, 1,616 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns.

Three-time Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook also landed on the list. He took the No. 41 spot, which makes him the third-highest running back on the list behind Derrick Henry and Jonathan Taylor. At only 26 years old, Cook is one of the most versatile tailbacks in the game and a key part of the Vikings’ offense.

And in case you were wondering, Prisco also shows a little love to Minnesota’s defense as well by ranking longtime safety Harrison Smith at No. 99. The hard-hitting defensive back picks up his lunchbox and goes to work every season regardless of what’s happening around him.

He’s a former First-Team All-Pro safety that earned his sixth Pro Bowl invite last season. Not bad for a 33-year-old, right?

The honorable mentions for the Vikings went to quarterback Kirk Cousins and defensive end Danielle Hunter.

[listicle id=64371]

Several former Tigers crack CBS Sports ’25 under 25′ NFL rankings

There are a lot of young stars in the league who played at LSU during their college careers.

LSU may have taken a bit of a nosedive on the gridiron over the last two seasons, but this is still a program less than three years removed from a national title.

A number of stars from that team — and other former Tigers drafted in a similar timeframe — have had very nice starts to their professional careers, and there is a solid cohort of young players who played in Baton Rouge during their college days.

CBS Sports’ Cody Benjamin recently put out his “25 under 25” rankings for the NFL entering 2022, and there were a number of LSU standouts to crack the list. Here’s where each of them stands.

Highlights and notes from Day 1 of minicamp

The last major spring practices are underway

After closing the curtains on organized team activities, the Minnesota Vikings finish things off with mandatory minicamp this week.

They kick-started the festivities on Tuesday with the team gathering on the practice field for another week of work. This is the time where we get the best glimpse of where things stand ahead of training camp later this summer.

The pads haven’t come on yet. So these practices are still more about drilling positioning and technique. But it doesn’t mean things aren’t getting competitive out there between the offense and defense, along with the ongoing position battles on the roster.

Here are some notes and highlights from Day 1.

2022 Schedule Swings: Receivers

Which receiver gets a far easier schedule for 2022? Who experiences the worst drop in schedule strength?

The schedule strength for receivers is typically the least accurate compared to running backs and quarterbacks because there are two to four wideouts and a tight end that are regularly used per team, and each varies in how they mix them.

That means comparing the schedule strength between 2021 and 2022 is also harder to apply to individual players. Only the extremes are likely to matter.

The average fantasy points allowed by defenses to receivers last year were applied to each offense’s schedule to determine their true schedule strength of last year, and the same values are applied to their 2022 schedule. This includes considering both home and away venues separately for each defense.

The resulting fantasy point advantages are compared between years and their difference is their “swing points.”  The higher the Swing Points, the better their schedule is compared to last year.

Best schedule swings

Kyle Pitts / Drake London (ATL) – Applying schedule strength to receivers is never straightforward, but at least in Atlanta their receivers are mostly just Pitts and the rookie London. The Falcons trade the worst schedule for receivers for 2021 for an advantageous No. 6. A shaky backfield means the passing game will be needed often, though the quarterback situation is less than optimal to start their rebuilding year.

Terry McLaurin / Jahan Dotson (WAS) – Streaking from the No. 28 up to the No. 1 schedule for receivers is bound to benefit McLaurin and even the rookie Dotson who is projected to be a starter. There’s a new quarterback in Washington, but Carson Wentz should be good enough to help the Commander’s receivers to find some advantage in the lightest cast of opponents.

D.J. Moore / Robby Anderson (CAR) – The Panthers passing game declined last year, especially for Anderson, but should see at least an incremental turnaround, no longer fighting one of the worst schedules for receivers. Sam Darnold is running out of chances to prove himself but should be able to connect better with Moore and Anderson for 2022.

Stefon Diggs / Dawson Knox BUF) – One of the elite passing offenses in the league hardly needs any extra advantages, but the Bills swing over to one of the lightest in the NFL and Josh Allen already has chemistry with Diggs, Knox and Gabriel Davis. The wideouts already ranked No. 1 in the NFL with 443 targets in 2021. Maybe this year, they’ll catch even more.

Worst schedule swings

Amari Cooper / Donovan Peoples-Jones (CLE) – The Browns ranked in the Bottom-3 for most receiving categories for wideouts last year and upgrading to an aging Amari Cooper may not be the boost they need. Facing the worst schedule for receivers after flopping against the No. 9 last year doesn’t bode well for an increase in receiver production.

Cooper Kupp / Allen Robinson (LAR) – There’s no mistaking that the Rams face a much tougher schedule this year, but Kupp was already churning out astronomic stats and Robinson is a clear upgrade for the No. 2 wideout. The Rams are likely to be challenged to run well, and Matt Stafford led them to a Super Bowl win last year as the No. 1 offense in wideout catches, yards, and touchdowns. This isn’t a feel-good addition to their outlook, but if any receivers can be better than their schedule, it is the Rams.

Justin Jefferson / Adam Thielen (MIN) – Similar to the Rams, the Vikes enjoyed one of the lightest schedules for receivers in 2021, and now face the No. 25 toughest slate of games for the position. And as with the Rams, the Vikings receivers – principally Jefferson – are elite and should be better than their opponents.

Diontae Johnson / Chase Claypool (PIT) – This is a concern for the Steelers wideouts and tight ends. Their schedule was just average last year, and falls to only No. 31 while installing a new quarterback(s) for the first time since 2004. And the receivers were already ranked No. 31 last year with just 10.9 yards per catch by wide receivers. The ability to throw downfield will improve regardless of which non-Roethlisberger quarterback starts, but connecting with receivers could be tougher regardless.

NFL Network analyst ranks Justin Jefferson as best receiver under age 25

One NFL analyst is taking Justin Jefferson over his former teammate Ja’Marr Chase

It’s a good thing Justin Jefferson is rocking the Randy Moss afro these days because he’s truly walking in the shadows of one of the greatest receivers that ever lived.

NFL Network’s Peter Schrager put together a ranking of the top-five receivers under the age of 25. On a list that also had players like Ja’Marr Chase, DK Metcalf, A.J. Brown and CeeDee Lamb, Jefferson was the No. 1-ranked receiver.

Some have really undersold his accomplishments last season mostly because the Vikings didn’t make the postseason, again.

But there really is no denying the fact that the former No. 22 overall pick of the 2020 NFL draft is on track to having a Hall of Fame-worthy career.

Jefferson came within 17 yards of surpassing Moss and setting a new franchise record for most receiving yards in a single season. He also broke Odell Beckham Jr.’s record for most receiving yards in the first two NFL seasons (3,016).

In just last season alone, he compiled 108 receptions for 1,616 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns.

And to think, that was when head coach Mike Zimmer and offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak were overseeing things. Now, Jefferson will be playing under the same sophisticated offense that helped Cooper Kupp amass a league-best 145 receptions for 1,943 yards and 16 touchdowns.

A third-year takeoff could be in store for the man known as “Jets.”

[listicle id=64196]

Highlights and notes from Vikings final week of OTAs

The Vikings wrap up OTAs

The Minnesota Vikings closed out the final stretch of organized team activities last week with confidence and some concerns.

On one hand, the team is excited about the potential they have to turn things around immediately.

They have responded well to Kevin O’Connell as the head coach, and overall, there seems to be a much more loose and exciting vibe from the team, as opposed to how they looked towards the end of the Mike Zimmer era.

However, on the other hand, they’re being reminded of how quickly things can change on the football field. It takes more than talent to be a legitimate Super Bowl contender. Injuries have put countless championship teams in the grave before they even started.

Here are some observations as the Vikings wrapped up OTAs.