Watch: Detroit Lions RB Jermar Jefferson’s college highlights

When the Detroit Lions traded up for LB Derrick Barnes, general manager Brad Holmes managed to get the Cleveland Browns to throw in pick No. 257, third to last in the event. With the extra pick, the Lions selected RB Jermar Jefferson, a player Holmes, “didn’t really think that he would still be on the board” at that spot.

Jefferson said he was expecting to be selected in the “third or fourth round” and while he was disappointed, he was still “cherishing the moment”. Jefferson was saying all the right things, but it was clear he was angry about not being selected earlier and acknowledged there was a chip on his shoulder.

“Oh, really angry,” Jefferson responded to if the chip would lead to a more angry running style. “I’ve been in this position before. All my life I’ve been underrated. I went to a low-tier college, wasn’t recruited by any good high schools or anything, went to a low-tier college, like I said before. Again, in the seventh round. But ‘Hey, I’m going to show the world. I’m going to shock the world. Just know the Detroit Lions are getting everything out of me. Everything.”

There is little doubt Jefferson is highly motivated, but it was his play on the field that led to Holmes selecting him.

“Jermar (Jefferson) was actually one that (we identified) early on in the process,” Holmes said in his post-draft press conference. “I want to say during the first week of meetings, you know, in February, really impressive, he’s such an instinctive runner. He has a natural feel to be a slippery inside player. He runs hard, he just has a natural feel from a lot of inside zone stuff. But he can do all phases, gap, power stuff, inside zone stuff. But he’s just a very smooth, slippery, instinctive runner who we’re really excited about.”

Let’s take a closer look at some of those traits by looking at Jefferson’s college highlights, starting with the video produced by the Lions’ media department.

Quick Clips

Game cut-ups, breakdowns

Interviews