There’s a sizable sliver of a silver lining involving the health of Florida’s most productive defensive lineman.
Earlier this week, it was reported that Cece Jefferson would be sidelined for four months after undergoing surgery on his right shoulder earlier this week; such a timeline would’ve had the lineman out until the middle of August, after summer camp had started. Thursday, however, brought word that Jefferson is instead expected to be recovered in time for the start of camp in early August.
So, Jefferson's rehab is going to be less than four months and he'll be ready for preseason camp.
— Robbie Andreu (@RobbieAndreu) April 19, 2018
It should be noted that, as of yet, the football program has not publicly addressed Jefferson’s status moving forward.
Jefferson was a consensus five-star prospect, rated as the No. 2 strongside defensive end in the Class of 2015; the No. 4 player at any position in the state of Florida; and the No. 7 player overall on 247Sports.com’s composite board.
This past season, Jefferson led the Gators with 13.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. After considering early entry into the 2018 NFL draft, the 6-1, 242-pound lineman opted to return to Gainesville for one more season.