Darnell Jefferies

Position:
DL
Ht./Wt.:
6-3 / 285
Hometown:
Covington, Ga.
High School:
Newton
Prev School:
Clemson
Years in College / At Minnesota:
7 / 3
Remaining Eligibility Entering 2025 Season:
1 year
Letters:
1
Class:
Graduate Student

PRONUNCIATION

HONORS:
Academic All-Big Ten (2024, 2023)

2024: Played in eight games and made five tackles. Game-by-Game: Made one tackle against North Carolina • competed against Rhode Island • notched three tackles against Nevada • played at Michigan • tallied one tackle against USC • played at UCLA and against Maryland • competed against Penn State.

2023: Missed the entire season with an injury sustained in training camp.

2022: Played in all 13 games and made six tackles. Game-by-Game: Made his Minnesota debut against New Mexico State • competed against Western Illinois and Colorado • had one tackle at Michigan State • saw action against Purdue • recorded one tackle at Illinois • made two tackles at Penn State • played against Rutgers • made one tackle at Nebraska • played against Northwestern and Iowa and at Wisconsin • made one tackle against Syracuse.

PREVIOUS COLLEGE: Spent four seasons (2018-21) at Clemson • played in 29 career games and made 22 tackles, one tackle for loss and half a sack • in 2021, played in six games and made one tackle • in 2020, made seven tackles in seven games • in 2019, played in 15 games and made 14 tackles, which included one tackle for loss and half a sack • in 2018, played in one game (against Louisville) before redshirting.

HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Newton High School in Covington, Ga. • as a senior, made 65 tackles, 19 tackles for loss and seven sacks en route to being named region defensive player-of-the-year • also played tight end and made seven catches and scored one touchdown • as a junior, totaled 76 tackles, five tackles for loss and two sacks • coached by Terrance Banks • also played basketball and ran track as a junior • ranked as the No. 22 defensive tackles in Georgia by ESPN.

PERSONAL: Son of Woangie and Derrick Cooper • has two sisters (Maya Wyatt and Destiney Jefferies) • earned degree from Clemson in parks, recreation and tourism management in December 2021 • was a two-time ACC Honor Roll selection (2018-19) at Clemson.