Notre Dame cornerback who grew into a steady, playmaking veteran
In the 2001 season, Clifford Jefferson finished with 23 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, and 3 pass breakups, giving Notre Dame a senior CB who could make timely plays even after an uneven career path[10]. He was a former highly touted recruit from Dallas Carter and was later described by Notre Dame sources as a key returning defender with the team’s best returning track record in pass breakups from the prior season[4][12]. The big takeaway: he brought experience, competitiveness, and late-career ball production, though consistency was the knock—more “playmaker with scar tissue” than lockdown shutdown artist[8][15].
