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2020 NFL Draft: Van Jefferson, K.J. Hill and the art of creating separation

By Jacob Schyvinck

COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 24: Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver K.J. Hill (14) runs with the ball while Michigan Wolverines defensive back Lavert Hill (24 attempts to tackle him during the second quarter at Ohio Stadium on November 24, 2018. (Photo by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 24: Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver K.J. Hill (14) runs with the ball while Michigan Wolverines defensive back Lavert Hill (24 attempts to tackle him during the second quarter at Ohio Stadium on November 24, 2018. (Photo by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 02: Van Jefferson #12 of the Florida Gators scores a touchdown during a game against the Georgia Bulldogs on November 02, 2019 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 02: Van Jefferson #12 of the Florida Gators scores a touchdown during a game against the Georgia Bulldogs on November 02, 2019 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

Van Jefferson

Jefferson is another master at gaining separation. He’s learned how to gain leverage from his father, Sean, who played in the NFL and now coaches. Let’s look at a few of his reps from the Senior Bowl.

On this first rep that we’ll look at from Jefferson, he’s getting a free release here since it’s off-coverage, so there’s not much to talk about there. However, Jefferson uses that to his advantage. Jefferson puts in a little hesitation during his route to sell to the defensive back that he’s trying to work vertical. Immediately after the hesitation, Jefferson gets the corner to flip his hips, and from there, the rep is won. As soon as that happens, Jefferson sinks his hips and wins on a comeback route, creating plenty of room and winning with no problem.

Let’s make a quick note of this rep here from Jefferson. He’s going up against Pitt’s Dane Jackson, who put together a solid week down in Mobile. However, it’s still not a fair fight. Jefferson sells the in-out-in release so well here to fool Jackson into believing he wants inside leverage, exploding off of his outside plant foot. Jackson immediately works to get inside position, and Jefferson fools him by exploding off his inside foot to win on a goal line fade. The amount of separation he creates there with minimal space to work with is outstanding.

For the last example of Jefferson’s route-running skills, we will look at a rep against UCLA corner Darnay Holmes, who also had a good week in Mobile. He battled well against Jefferson in one-on-ones, but Jefferson still found ways to win.

Jefferson immediately gets into his outside stem, which forces Holmes to flip his hips to the sideline. He then throws in that hesitation move, which doesn’t fool Holmes (or at least he thinks it doesn’t). Holmes is now looking for that comeback route Jefferson ran earlier in the week, which is exactly what Jefferson wants. Jefferson snaps off his route, creates separation to the inside working through some contact, and makes a good catch.

Like Hill, Van Jefferson is another prospect that projects well into a slot role. However, his ability to create separation in many ways makes him a real threat in the NFL, proving that separation is truly king when looking for receivers.

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