This week, we've looked at a number of legendary tight ends that called Tempe their home in college, most recently looking at Clancy Osborne.
Today, we look at the career of the man who set the standard for all future wide receivers, and that would be none other than John Jefferson.
A product of Franklin D. Roosevelt High School in Dallas TX, Jefferson received a scholarship to play for the Sun Devils, led by the legend Frank Kush. As a freshman in 1974, Jefferson announced his presence with authority, hauling in 30 receptions (a freshman record that would be broken 28 years later by Derek Hagan) for 423 yards (also a record, broken in 2004 by Zach Miller).
His breakout season would come in the magical 1975 season, where in 11 games he registered 44 receptions and 808 yards, also adding 5 TD catches as the Devils completed a perfect 12-0 season, capped off with a win against No. 6 Nebraska and ending the season as the No. 2 ranked team in the nation.
An up-and-down 1976 season for the Sun Devils didn't disrupt Jefferson's performance, logging 48 catches for 681 yards and 5 TDs for a Devils team that went 4-7 overall, but more importantly, retained the Territorial Cup for a second straight season. Jefferson's senior season in 1977 was easily his most impressive, catching 53 passes for 912 yards and a career-high 8 TDs, even adding a rushing touchdown on top of his receiving duties.
In recognition of his outstanding season, Jefferson was named a consensus All-American in addition to being a two-time All-WAC pick. Jefferson was also selected as the Arizona Amateur Athlete of the Year in 1977, and was twice named the Sun Devils Most Valuable Player, leading the team in receptions and receiving yards all four years in the maroon and gold.
At the time of his graduation, Jefferson was the Sun Devils career leader in receptions with 188 (currently 4th), receiving yards with 2,993 (currently 2nd), and held the NCAA record with 44 consecutive games with a reception (currently 2nd in ASU history).
The San Diego Chargers made Jefferson the 14th overall pick in the 1978 NFL Draft, the 8th Sun Devil to be taken in the first round in the common draft era (after 1966). Alongside Charlie Joyner, Kellen Winslow and Wes Chandler, Jefferson was a major contribution to the emerging "vertical offense", also known as Air Coryell for head coach Don Coryell.
In parts of eight seasons in the NFL with the Chargers, Green Bay Packers and Cleveland Browns, Jefferson logged career numbers of 351 receptions, 5,714 yards, and 47 TDs, earning four Pro Bowl nominations, leading the league in TD receptions twice and receiving yards once.
The accolades continued to come after Jefferson's playing days ended, becoming a member of the Arizona State Hall of Fame Class of 1979 and the College Football Hall of Fame Class of 2002. After time away from football to pursue a career in commercial real estate, Jefferson remained active in football as a coach at SMU and Kansas, then later the director of player development for the Washington Redskins through the end of the 2008 season.
The 70's brought changes in offensive schemes throughout football, and John Jefferson was the face of this new era for Arizona State. With 84 days until the opener against Northern Arizona, we salute the career of a truly dynamic player from the Frank Kush years.