KJ Jefferson

The Razorbacks had a down season in 2022 as compared to 2021, but an argument can be made that Jefferson was actually better, at least individually. He completed a career-high 68-percent of his passes, tossed 24 touchdowns as compared to five interceptions, and also rushed for a career-high nine touchdowns. Jefferson amassed over 3,200 total yards for the second-straight season. The issue heading into his senior campaign will be the dearth of returning receivers. Bryce Stephens is the leading returning wideout, having caught nine passes for 109 yards a season ago. The Razorbacks brought in a slew of transfers to help replace the production lost by the departures of Matt Landers, Jadon Haselwood and Trey Knox, though. 6-7 Tyrone Broden from Bowling Green has averaged over 16 yards per grab for his collegiate career, while finding the end zone 12 times over the last two seasons. Andrew Armstrong was plucked from the FCS ranks, and at 6-6, amassed over 1,000 yards receiving at Texas A&M-Commerce last season while scoring 13 touchdowns. Division II transfer Isaac TeSlaa transfers from Hillside College, where he had 68 catches for 1,325 yards and 13 touchdowns. TeSlaa is the shortest of the trio at 6-4. How quickly those wideouts are integrated into the offense could go a long way towards determining Jefferson’s ceiling in 2023.

Jefferson is a polarizing quarterback in this tier in that his production was extremely strong as both a passer and a runner last season, but there are questions as to whether he can repeat it. So much of the passing production was tied to Treylon Burks, who accounted for 30 percent of the target share and 40 percent of the receiving yards. Jefferson’s rushing should remain a constant and Arkansas did well in the portal by adding Jadon Haselwood and Matt Landers to the receiving corps. How Jefferson responds to Burks’ absence will tell the tale of his 2022 season.

Jefferson is a dual-threat quarterback who has the inside track at the starting quarterback job for Arkansas in 2021. Jefferson stepped in for graduate transfer Feleipe Franks versus Missouri last December and did not disappoint, completing 18-of-33 passes for 274 yards and three touchdowns through the air, while also rushing 13 times for 32 yards and an additional score on the ground. Jefferson has a prototypical frame at 6-foot-3, 240-lbs, and thus far has outplayed the shiftier, albeit smaller dual-threat competitor at quarterback, Malik Hornsby. Jefferson should have ample weapons at his disposal, as leading receivers Treylon Burks and Mike Woods both return, with running back Trelon Smith ready to take over the starting running back gig full-time.