KJ Jefferson Found His Sunshine in Florida

It took three quarters, but Arkansas Razorbacks QB discovered himself, two rarely used receivers against Gators in big SEC win

Author:
Kent Smith
Updated:
Nov 4, 2023 8:50 PM EDT
Original:
Nov 4, 2023

In this story:

Arkansas Razorbacks

GAINESVILLE, Ark. – It was merely an observation sent to the entire allHogs.com staff.

Oct. 21, 1:39 p.m.:

"Jefferson looks like he wants to go to the locker room and not come back."

Arkansas quarterback KJ had just peeled himself up off the turf again after taking a beating all game long in a 7-3 loss to Mississippi State that was more hopeless than the score would indicate. Eight games was all it took for offensive coordinator Dan Enos to drain the moxie completely out of preseason All-SEC selection while also draining all of the enjoyment from the game.

That kind of damage doesn't go away overnight, but as the Razorbacks' 39-36 overtime win over Florida progressed, the layers of self-doubt, confusion and frustration slowly peeled away. New offensive coordinator Kenny Guiton stripped things back and eased Jefferson into plays and a pacing that drifted further and further away from the Enos offense as the game went.

By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, there was even a glimpse of the proverbial Superman cape. When Jefferson missed a wide open Tyrone Broden in the corner of the end zone, he no longer had the defeated look that has been present on his face for much of the season. Instead, the frustration as he walked off the field transitioned into one of determination.

For weeks, even when Jefferson ran designed runs, the fire wasn't there. He was a shell of his former self. It had no longer become a question as to whether he could somehow find that fire once again to spark the Razorback offense, but whether he would soon join running back Raheim Sanders in finding a way to put as much physical distance between himself and the Dan Enos offense by whatever means necessary.

Fortunately for Jefferson and Razorback fans, he didn't have to do that. Arkansas coach Sam Pittman stepped up and made the difficult decision to do the only thing that could allow for any thought of hope. He removed Enos from the program.

When he returned to the field for what was left of the fourth quarter, the real KJ Jefferson walked out. Arkansas fans hadn't seen him since the Liberty Bowl in Memphis. With Sanders by his side and the game on the line, it was old times again.

On the final three drives, Jefferson led the Arkansas offense to 158 yards, two touchdowns, and a field goal that took a bit of Jefferson magic to pull off after penalties killed what appeared to be a destined third touchdown. That was almost as many yards as the Razorbacks had the entire game against Mississippi State.

On those three drives, he ran for 85 yards and a touchdown while also throwing for a touchdown. Not only that, but he managed to do something Enos never did in eight weeks, let Arkansas fans know Tyrone Broden and Isaiah Sategna play wide receiver for the Razorbacks.

Jefferson went to Sategna on four consecutive plays before ripping off a 25-yard touchdown run. On the next drive, he went to Broden on back-to-back plays, including trusting the tall transfer to make the 10-yard catch that brought kicker Cam Little back into range for the 49-yard field goal that forced overtime.

The next pass Jefferson threw was equally important, also targeting Broden for the third consecutive time. It was only for four yards, but it was a touchdown pass that made up for the last time Broden got open in the end zone. Jefferson rode the RPO with Sanders just long enough to allow Broden to create the slightest amount of separation over the middle and Jefferson whipped a dart into his bread basket for the touchdown.

As the victorious receiver waived goodbye to the Florida Gators and their fans, he may as well have been saying goodbye to one of the darkest times in Jefferson's playing career. On the 25-yard touchdown run, Jefferson danced with glee in the end zone. When he ran for 20 yards on 1st & 20 in overtime, sending a defender rolling a good five yards with a full thrust to the chest, the flex he did as he got up indicated he remembered he lifts weights.

Jefferson was having fun again. The dark cloud had dissipated.

It proved head coach Sam Pittman right. There are two seasons this year. The one where Jefferson looked miserable under Enos, and the one under Guiton where it looks like the game is fun once again.