Personal Connections, Portal Moves Hint at Early Favorites for Jefferson's Services
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – There are three favorites to land former Arkansas quarterback KJ Jefferson and a couple of moves have raised eyebrows in a couple of places.
South Carolina Gamecocks
This one makes more sense than it did earlier today. The biggest reason people have pushed the idea Jefferson ends up in South Carolina is because of the time offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains and wide receivers coach Justin Stepp spent with Jefferson at Arkansas.
Loggains has made a habit of plucking Razorbacks out of the portal beginning with tight end Trey Knox and the recent addition of running back Raheim "Rocket" Sanders. After the team struggled this past season, the Gamecocks need someone Loggains can trust and the recent decision by potential quarterback AJ Swann greatly increases the odds South Carolina will target Jefferson.
TCU Horned Frogs
Things did not go well for Kendal Briles as offensive coordinator in Fort Worth. He took a team that was in the national championship game last year and made it so bad a loss to TCU turned out to be the No. 1 reason SMU got shut out of the New Year's Six bowls.
In the Horned Frogs' first three Big 12 losses, the offense averaged less than 13 points per game. Briles desperately needs someone he knows at quarterback who also knows his offense inside an out. Jefferson certainly fits the bill.
It wouldn't be a bad move. The competition is much weaker and teams haven't spent four years breaking down film on Jefferson and identifying all of his weaknesses first-hand. Plus, his physical style will stand out in the Big 12.
One sign that it might be a possibility is the departure of former Arkansas Razorback commit Chandler Morris shortly after Jefferson made it official he is in the portal. He either started or played significant time in the first six games of the season.
Mississippi State
This was the initial thought, especially after Lebby was hired and there was a possibility he would make Briles, his brother-in-law, his offensive coordinator. That doesn't appear to be going to happen.
The reasoning for this one is simple. Mississippi State is home for Jefferson. Even with Will Rogers heading to Washington, this seems least likely of the three to happen. Had Briles made the move, it would have been a fit. However, with that not happening, an expensive injury prone run-first quarterback with perceived accuracy issues who has a reputation for not progressing through reads well is a square peg in a round hole.
Once Blake Shapen got picked up out of Baylor even though everyone knew Jefferson was coming to the portal, it became clear he's not a priority in Starkville. If he ends up at either of the two SEC schools in Mississippi, it would be a surprise.
Dark Horse
There is an outside shot Miami might make a run at Jefferson. Hurricanes fans are certainly pushing hard to bring Jefferson's suits, bags and jewelry down to Coral Gables.
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