One of the most accomplished defensive players in Lenoir-Rhyne history, Andre Jefferson, was named to Reece’s Senior Bowl Watch List. Out of 859 total junior players, Jefferson is one of only 10 players not currently playing in NCAA Division I. Jefferson and Carson Newman’s Major Williams are the two South Atlantic Conference honorees.

This year’s Senior Bowl team is comprised of 11 regional scouts with over 200 years of NFL experience. They rely on decades-long relationships at the college and NFL levels to keep tabs on all the up-and-comers, late bloomers and transfer players taking their chances in their final season. Senior Bowl scouts will be in virtually every FBS and many small school stadiums this college season. Last year, their team personally saw all but two (of 139) prospects who landed on the All-American and National rosters in February.

Last season, Jefferson was named to the First-Team All-Conference, Second Team All-Region and the D2Football Elite 100 list. He posted a program-record 24 tackles for loss and added 13 sacks, helping the Bears to a national semifinal berth. He finished the season fourth on the team with 58 total tackles, along with six QB hurries, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. He was a 2022 AFCA Second Team All-American and broke the LR single-game record for sacks by recording 5.5 against Tusculum. He is the LR career record holder for total sacks (29.5) and ranks second with 48.5 tackles for loss.

The Bears open their season on Saturday, September 7th when they host Bowie State in a rematch of their 2021 playoff battle. Their first conference game will be on Saturday, September 21st when the Bears travel to Mars Hill to face the Lions.

{Information provided by Lenoir-Rhyne Athletics}