Cal Football Video: Standout Oregon State RB Jermar Jefferson Might Return for Saturday's Game
Oregon State running back Jermar Jefferson, who rushed for 1,380 yards as a freshman, might return this week after missing two games with an ankle injury, and he will present a problem for Cal if he plays Saturday.
Jefferson is one of two running backs Oregon State uses, with Artavis Pierce getting most of the work in Jefferson’s absence. Pierce is no slouch, averaging 6.8 yards per carry. But the star is Jefferson, who was limited in last year’s game against Cal because of an injury, and may not be at full strength Saturday either. He had just to carries for 34 yards in the Bears’ 49-7 victory over Oregon State in 2018.
Oregon State coach Jonathan Smith has not said anything definitive this week about whether Jefferson will play Saturday, only saying that he hopes Jefferson will play.
Cal coach Justin Wilcox is preparing as if Jefferson will play.
“He really burst on the scene as a true freshman,” Wilcox said in the video. “Runs through tackles, real decisive, stuck his foot in the ground, head north and south, run through a tackle, sort of a slasher guy. Really good strength. He’s a very talented runner, no doubt about that.”
In the four games he has played this season, Jefferson has rushed for 296 yards, averaging 5.3 yards per carry. He ran for 183 yards in the win over Hawaii this season, and ran for more than 200 yards twice last season, including 254 against Arizona State.
Even if Jefferson does play, Pierce may get most of the carries. Pierce has run for 503 yards and five touchdowns this season and has run for more than 100 yards twice in 2019, including 151 against Stanford.
They complement Beavers quarterback Jake Luton and wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins.
(Click here for a video of Cal defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter talking about Luton and Hodjins.)
