Hogs' KJ Jefferson Will Be in Spotlight This Season

Getting on watch lists like for O'Brien Award means stats will go live every week

Author:
Andy Hodges
Updated:
Aug 9, 2023 3:51 AM EDT
Original:
Aug 8, 2023

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas quarterback KJ Jefferson was getting attention before being named to O'Brien Award watch list Tuesday morning. It just makes the spotlight on him is a lot brighter.

The upshot of that is now every week of the season his numbers will go national. Outside of the Razorback media and fans, I'm not really sure that many people looked at his stats every week. Now he's on a list for he top quarterback award in the country and everybody's numbers on there get published.

For a quarterback looking to get through a complete season as the starter without missing a game, that's just another bit of focus on every game. Other teams notice opponents that week that are on these lists.

In Tuesday morning's practice at the indoor facility, Jefferson was getting coached by new offensive coordinator Dan Enos. He has a track record of getting quarterbacks to the NFL and the Hogs' signal caller is his latest project. These published stats every week will give us an idea of how that's working out in a new offense.

Maybe the biggest question, though, is who does he find as a go-to receiver like he had with Treylon Burks back in that nine-win season in 2021 when the Hogs made it to the Outback Bowl.

Andrew Armstrong and Isaiah Sategna are emerging as possible playmakers. Transfer Isaac Teslaa also has a shot to fill that role and has shown playmaking ability that has gotten just about everyone's attention.

"He knows what to do, knows why we’re making a play call, knows where he needs to end up on a play," wide receivers coach Kenny Guiton said Tuesday morning. "When that ball is in the air and it’s around No. 4, expect a play to be made. He’s one of those kinds of guys where I call it contact and bank catches. We’ve got to put them in the bank, and he’s making deposits at the moment. He’s not the only one. There’s quite a few. But he’s one of those guys, man. If the ball is around that wingspan, he’s coming down with it."

Now the issue is can everybody stay healthy. Sorry to be the one to say it, but it should be the disclaimer on just about everything. In the SEC every year, injuries play a big role and it's one of the biggest questions around Jefferson, who has lost at least a game every year to being hurt. Ignoring it won't make it go away.