LSU Football: Three Arkansas Players To Watch In Week 4 Matchup

Brian Kelly and the LSU Tigers continue game preparation for the Arkansas Razorbacks as this program gets ready for their SEC home opener on Saturday.

After a convincing victory on the road against Mississippi State, the Tigers will face a different challenge in the Razorbacks in Week 4.

Led by elite signal-caller KJ Jefferson, Arkansas will look to rebound after dropping a stunner to BYU in Week 3, and it’s key LSU locks in on the task at hand against a program with something to prove.

Who must LSU account for on Saturday?

Three Razorbacks to Monitor:

KJ Jefferson - Quarterback

Arkansas signal-caller KJ Jefferson is undoubtedly one of the top players in the SEC, and as he prepares for a matchup against Jayden Daniels, it sets the stage for a classic in Tiger Stadium between the top two quarterbacks in the conference.

For Jefferson, it’s his power that makes him so talented. He can lower his shoulder and plow through defenders with his rushing attack but also has the ability to drop back in the pocket and deliver a laser to a receiver downfield.

Through three games, Jefferson is 55-for-77 on passing attempts with 629 yards and six touchdowns. He’s been a reliable resource for the Razorbacks despite his weapons on the outside still looking to hit their stride.

The Tigers must contain Jefferson and limit his explosive plays on Saturday in Death Valley. One of the top signal-callers in the country, it’s of the utmost importance to keep him in check.

Andrew Armstrong - Wide Receiver

With the Arkansas rushing attack remaining a work in progress, they’ve begun to utilize their outside weapons. The aforementioned “work in progress” refers to finding their true WR1 and that appears to have been found in Armstrong.

He’s up to 197 yards on the season with 18 receptions and three touchdowns. The leading receiver in every category, a star is emerging and this LSU secondary will be put to the test against Armstrong.

At 6-foot-4, 201 pounds, Armstrong is a lengthy wideout who can reach the ball at its highest point while fighting off defenders. As he prepares to take on an LSU secondary that is still looking for that ideal rotation, the Tigers will need to figure things out sooner rather than later against Armstrong before he exploits the defensive backs.

Jaheim Thomas - Linebacker

Thomas has held down the second-level for the Razorbacks through the first three weeks of the season. He leads the team in total tackles and solo tackles while ranking second in sacks with 1.5 total.

A player who shoots the gap at an impressive rate and closes in on opponents well, the Tigers will have to monitor the seasoned linebacker on Saturday in Death Valley. It’s clear LSU has a goal of developing a consistent rushing attack, and facing a player of Thomas’ caliber, it’s imperative he’s accounted for on each snap.