A.J. Jefferson Named SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week

A.J. Jefferson is wanting to make an impact in the 2016 season in the hopes it will pay off on draft day in 2017. So far, things are going exactly as he planned.

Jefferson currently leads the SEC in sacks and tackles for loss. He registered 2 TFLs and 1 sack against the South Carolina Gamecocks this past Saturday. Here is the official press release from the Mississippi St. Bulldogs webpage hailstate.com.

STARKVILLE, Miss. – Ranking third in the nation and first in the Southeastern Conference in tackles for loss (6.0) through the first two weeks of the season, senior A.J. Jefferson has been named the SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week, the league office announced Monday.

Jefferson has been dominant the first two weeks of the season, and he accounted for five tackles, one sack for a loss of eight on third down and two tackles for loss in MSU's win over South Carolina.

The Summitt, Miss., native anchored a Bulldog defense that held the Gamecocks to 34 yards rushing, the fewest by an opponent against MSU since LSU had 30 on Sept. 26, 2009. Jefferson is tied for the SEC lead in sacks with three.

With his stellar performance Saturday, Jefferson moved into sixth place in MSU career tackles for loss with now 30.5. Entering 2016, Jefferson was placed on the Ted Hendricks Award Watch List in addition to being named Preseason All-SEC by four outlets.

The weekly honor makes Jefferson the first Bulldog to be named SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week since current Kansas City Chief Chris Jones on Nov. 9, 2015.

Congratulations to A.J. Jefferson on being named the SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week. He is the first Bulldog to grab such an honor in the 2016 season, and hopefully there will be many more.