Last Thing SEC Needs is Jefferson with Chip on His Shoulder

National media's effort to hype anyone other than Arkansas quarterback could make life difficult for SEC defenses when facing Razorbacks

Author:
Kent Smith
Updated:
Jul 1, 2023 10:31 AM EDT
Original:
Jul 1, 2023

In this story:

Arkansas Razorbacks

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – How does a man who is 6-3, 240 pounds of bullish muscle and speed who threw for 5,324, ran for 1,304, accounted for 60 touchdowns and only threw nine interceptions against a litany of future NFL defensive backs over the course of two seasons turn out to be invisible? And with expectations that he's learning a long list of skills that will make him even better heading into the 2023 season to boot.

That is what is inexplicably happening to Arkansas quarterback KJ Jefferson. So many national articles hype up LSU's Jayden Daniels, Tennessee's Joe Milton, whatever is coming out of Georgia and even whoever gets Lane Kiffin's blessing over at Ole Miss, adding them to the "Hey, look over here!" lists. Instead, Jefferson gets grouped under a cloak of invisibility alongside Will Rogers over at Mississippi State.

Once Bryce Young bounced for the NFL, leaving Nick Saban to figure out if anyone walking around the Alabama campus or slinging pasta at the Olive Garden on McFarland can throw a pass, there became an urgency to skip over the next guys in the SEC line to focus on the next big thing from more appealing programs. That's left possibly the most complete quarterback in the SEC spending yet another season looking for respect.

Neither of the two most prominent flavors of the day have his stats, even with Jefferson missing games to deal with injuries. Daniels is the closest with 5,293 yards passing over the past two seasons and 1,595 yards rushing. However, he has more interceptions and fewer touchdowns – two stats that really count.

As for Milton, he can't drum up half of Jefferson's production from either of his past two years if the Tennessee quarterback combined his previous two seasons. Milton's only accounted for 1,346 yards passing and 14 touchdowns to go with a paltry 206 yards rushing. He hasn't even been able to get on the field, logging only nine starts in five years. Yet, Jefferson is supposed to sit back and be OK with the media hype machine pushing both Milton and Daniels, plus other unknowns, as the true leaders at quarterback in the SEC.

Despite wanting to see their favorite quarterback get his flowers, Arkansas fans probably hope the slights keep coming. It's Jefferson's final shot to prove to NFL scouts that he has what it takes to generate wins at the professional level. He also always appears to be at his best when doubted or the chips are down.

There's a certain "Guess where you can stick that criticism and doubt" mentality about Jefferson that has endeared him to Arkansas fans the past few years. There's also a strong willingness to fight until the end no matter what needs to be asked of him to prove he and his teammates belong.

Perhaps the lack of buzz is concern over the perceived absence of high profile talent at the wide receiver position. However, once Jefferson led whoever was left in the Liberty Bowl locker room at wide receiver to take down a highly motivated Kansas team that was excited to finally make a bowl game, there can be little doubt that he's a man who elevates those around him. Jefferson led the Hogs to nearly 700 yards of offense with barely enough players left on the team to take the field. If the new guys aren't up to the task, he will get them there anyway.

There's one last ride with Jefferson at the helm. One more chance for the Bull of Mississippi to prove the doubters wrong by cementing his future place in the NFL by making them also see him as the Slinger of Sardis. A final opportunity to permanently plant his flag in Razorback lore as the quarterback who proved once again that Arkansas can be a double-digit win program.

Jefferson is already a monster at the quarterback position. Angering him through disrespect is something SEC teams really don't want anyone to do. However, it's too late. It's likely already happened. That's probably why he disappeared to work out in California, and it's probably why Saturdays are going to be a nightmare for defenses each time Arkansas is on the the other side.