Jefferson Provides Perspective on Adjusting to New Players, Coaches

Arkansas placing heavy emphasis on getting quarterback ready for life in NFL

Author:
allHOGS Staff
Publish date:
Apr 15, 2023 8:34 PM EDT

In this story:

KJ JEFFERSON

On how this spring has been different

Just being able to pay attention to the smaller details. As a new coordinator came in and a new system, everybody had to adjust. So, I treated it as adversity and just being able to have adversity in my life and knowing how to cope with it and be able to overcome it. So, just doing the little details, staying after practice, looking at film and studying my playbook on the weekend. Just being able to be dedicated and be disciplined enough to know what I have to do and what's ahead of me.

On adjusting to going under center as a quarterback

There's always room for improvement. I am so hard on myself and I have a higher ceiling. There's always room for improvement. I'm loving it. It's fun being under center. I am starting to like being center more than shot gun now. It's fun just being able to get under center and be able to look at the defense and change different things and call different audibles and stuff like that will help me prepare for the next level. Coach Enos, really, that's his baby. Being very fundamental lower body footwork, always active, always moving in the pocket and eyes down field. A lot of the perks to being great elite quarterback.

On handling the injury last season

After I got my SC sprained it was hard, it was very hard, not to be able to practice, not be able to throw and help my teammates and put them in the best position to win. It was very frustrating at moments. Just being able to be around those guys kept my mind off of it and embrace them and at that point, just being hurt. In my mind I turned into a coach helping guys and still lead on the field and off the field. It was frustrating, but teammates like I had they always keep me on the toes and making sure I'm doing what I need to do.

On being a coach to the new receivers coming in

It was pretty fun getting those guys in on weekends and in the offseason just being able to learn how those guys run routes and just get the timing thing down. Also coming in and picking their brains a little bit, just being able to sit down and get on the board, draw some plays, what they're thinking in this coverage, if they're reading the boundary. Just being able really harp on the details, especially in this offense.

On expectations for this offense versus last season's offense

Expectations are really high. We want to be able to look complex but remain simple on offense. That's our motto. We want to throw different looks at the defense and try to get them off balance. Just being able to run our offense and throw a little eye candy in there as well. Being able to have successful drives, success in the red zone and run up the scoreboard.