5-star CeCe Jefferson signs with Florida, finally

After some drama, five-star defensive end CeCe Jefferson finally signed and sent in his National Letter of Intent to Florida, and will be with the Gators next year. The 6’2, 250-pound Jefferson originally committed to Florida during a televised ceremony on National Signing Day, but his letter of intent did not come across a fax machine in Gainesville, and it became apparent pretty quickly there was something going on.

Jefferson is a consensus five-star recruit who received an elite composite rating of 0.9951 and is listed as the No. 2 defensive end in the nation. Florida, Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, LSU and Ole Miss were listed as his finalists, and the Rebels were considered the tenuous favorites until shortly before the announcement.

The Glen St. Mary (Fla.) Baker County Senior High School star was sending out mixed signals on Twitter the day after Signing Day, but it’s pretty clear that his father preferred he not attend Florida. The source of the ill will between Jefferson’s father and Florida is apparently that no one informed them of the impending departure of defensive line coach Terrell Williams, who is taking a job with the Miami Dolphins.

However, it would seem that things got sorted out, at least enough to get CeCe’s letter of intent faxed to Gainesville.

Jefferson received high praise in Bud Elliott of SB Nation Recruiting’s scouting report, which touted the pass rusher as one who can be an “instant-impact defender”:

“There are very few prospects who have Jefferson’s blend of size and explosion. It is rare to have that level of quick-twitch in an athlete with Jefferson’s frame. Jefferson’s burst off the line is elite, and he can easily speed around tackles. But he is also very strong for his size, and understands how to play low with bend and leverage.”

Jefferson missed most of his senior season due to a shoulder injury that kept him out of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl as well.