Honors & Awards
» Nebraska Scout Team Defensive MVP (2016)
» Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll (Fall 2018)
» Brook Berringer Citizenship Team (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)
» Tom Osborne Citizenship Team (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)
2019 (Junior)
Pernell Jefferson provided depth to Nebraska's outside linebacking unit as a junior but did not play in a game.
2018 (Sophomore)
Jefferson added depth to Nebraska's linebacking unit as a sophomore in 2018, but he did not appear in a game.
2017 (Redshirt Freshman)
Jefferson brought depth to the Husker linebacking corps as a redshirt freshman, but he did not play in game.
2016 (Redshirt)
Jefferson redshirted and was named NU's Scout Team Defensive MVP.
Before Nebraska (Warren Easton HS)
Jefferson had an excellent career at Warren Easton High School in New Orleans, one of the state’s top Class 4A programs. Jefferson totaled more than 400 tackles in four seasons on the varsity squad. As a senior, Jefferson helped Coach Antonio Hull’s team to a 12-2 record and a trip to the semifinals of the Class 4A playoffs. The Eagles limited the opposition to 14 or fewer points in nine games. Jefferson recorded 108 total tackles, including 14 tackles for loss, while adding four fumbles caused, two fumble recoveries and an interception. For his play as a senior, Jefferson was a Louisiana all-state selection by USA Today and earned honorable-mention All-New Orleans Metro accolades.
In 2014, Jefferson was also a strong defensive presence, recording 115 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, an interception, five fumbles caused and two fumble recoveries. His play helped Easton High School to a 12-3 record and a trip to the 4A state championship game, where the Eagles fell by a single point. Jefferson earned honorable-mention all-state and all-district accolades for his performance in 2014.
Jefferson helped Easton High to a 10-4 record as a sophomore when he had 93 tackles and 10 tackles for loss to earn all-district honors. Jefferson added four fumbles caused, two fumble recoveries and an interception. He also made 87 tackles, including seven tackles for loss as a freshman.
Jefferson was ranked among the top 50 prospects in Louisiana by both 247 Sports and Rivals.com. He was also listed among the nation’s top 65 outside linebackers by both of those media outlets. Jefferson was originally committed to Oklahoma and also visited Indiana. His other offers included Arizona State, Kansas, Miami, Mississippi State, Missouri, TCU and Texas Tech. He also competed in track and basketball at Easton High School.
Personal
Pernell was born on Sept. 5, 1996, and is the son of Tracy and Percy Jefferson. He majored in child, youth and family studies and earned his bachelor's degree from Nebraska in December 2019. Jefferson has volunteered with the Nebraska Football Road Race, Husker Heroes, Noah’s Ark, School is Cool, the Red Cross, and local hospital and school outreach visits. In the spring of 2018, Jefferson spent a week in Panama as part of Nebraska Athletics’ No Filter service trip.