Eli Drinkwitz Preparing for 'Difficult Challenge' Against Arkansas Quarterback KJ Jefferson

Missouri Tigers head coach Eli Drinkwitz breaks down "physical, big and strong" Arkansas dual-threat quarterback KJ Jefferson ahead of Friday's matchup.

No. 10 Missouri may have significantly more wins against Arkansas this season, but Tigers head coach Eli Drinkwitz isn't taking that into account ahead of Friday's Battle Line Rivalry matchup.

Drinkwitz named a few Razorback players that could give the Tigers trouble during Monday's press conference, and quarterback KJ Jefferson was at the top of the list.

"(Jefferson) is a difficult challenge that we haven't really solved, and this is the fourth time we're playing him," Drinkwitz said. "He got his first career start in 2020 when Felipe Franks was injured and he absolutely stole the show. He played tremendously against us."

Jefferson and Arkansas may have lost 33-18 in his first start against Missouri on Dec. 5, 2020, but the quarterback certainly played tremendously: 274 passing yards and three touchdowns, plus 32 more yards on the ground and another score.

While Jefferson can be a threat through the air, his rare combination of size and speed also worries Drinkwitz.

"He's a big and physical runner," Drinkwitz said. "He's so strong. He overpowers guys and looks for the contact. Especially when you're in the pocket, you can't go low because that's a personal foul, but you can't go high because you're going to bounce right off of him. It's a pretty difficult challenge and we're going to have a good job of tackling and containing him."

Drinkwitz continued to show "a tremendous amount of respect" for Jefferson, but revealed that he'd been watching the dual-threat long before he made that first career start.

"I recruited him when I was at NC State and he's just an outstanding young man," Drinkwitz said. "You can tell his teammates respond to him and he's a fearless competitor."

Drinkwitz and Jefferson's fourth meeting on the college field will kick off on Friday, Nov. 24 at 3 p.m. CT on CBS.

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