You Can't Teach Size: Ben Jefferson

Each year across the country, Pop Warner teams adhere to age/weight guidelines that protect the safety of Pop Warner participants. Unfortunately, each year there are children who love the game, but because of their advanced size are not allowed to participate. This was the case for former NRHS 1983 Bally's HS All-American Ben Jefferson.

He came out for YTL at age 10 and lasted two weeks. At 6-0 and 160lbs he was already overwieght for the oldest Midget Colts team at that time. Because he couldn't play football until junior high school he remained active by playing New Rochelle Little League baseball and on the Davis Elementary basketball team.

Ironically when he did begin playing football he had to learn how to play against players who were so much smaller and faster and did not have much success in junior high school as you might expect. In High School he grew to be 6'9 and 285lbs and eventually his classmates also grew closer to his size, and he began to show the abilities that would earn him a scholarship to Maryland University. He says that the turning point for him was facing Mike Russo, a 6-7 280 lb New York All-State football player who was at Mahopac High School. It was the first time he had faced another person of his similar size. (read game article)

At 6-9 and now 350lbs, Ben went on to become a starter for Maryland University. After college he spent time with the Indianapolis Colts, before moving on and eventually starting for the Cleveland Browns in the early 1990's. Ben finished his football career playing for the World Football League/NFL Europe for 6 seasons before shoulder injuries lead to his retirement from the game in 1997. Ben currently resides in the Vegas Area with his wife and three sons. His oldest son Cameron Jefferson is a tight end on the high school football team and a top basketball recruit in the state.

So for anyone who may have come out this year and were too advanced in size for YTL, keep your grades up, keep active in other sports, work on your technique using sites such as www.weplay.com and continue to work hard. You never know.