Arkansas QB will assist Mannings

FAYETTEVILLE — College of Arkansas junior KJ Jefferson is among the many school quarterbacks who will function counselors on the Manning Passing Academy this week.

The Academy, at which the Manning relations and school quarterbacks work with junior excessive and highschool gamers, will start Thursday at Nicholls State College in Thibodaux, La.

That is the twenty sixth yr of the Academy, which started in 1996 and is run by Archie Manning and his sons Peyton, Eli and Cooper.

Jefferson, from Sardis, Miss., might be a counselor for the primary time. He was an apparent option to be invited after main the Razorbacks to a 9-4 document final season when he began each sport and accomplished 198 of 294 passes (67.3%) for two,676 yards and 21 touchdowns with 4 interceptions and rushed for 664 yards and 6 touchdowns.

“I’m excited, coming from the place I come from, that’s a big-time deal,” Jefferson mentioned Tuesday of being among the many counselors. “Simply having the ability to be chosen for that’s actually an honor.”

“I’m trying ahead to happening there and collaborating and having enjoyable.”

This yr’s Manning Academy can have a document 45 school quarterbacks as counselors for the 1,350 campers.

“It’s a very good group,” Archie Manning instructed Nola.com. “I normally minimize it off at 40 counselors, however we had so many guys that needed to return this yr that I couldn’t say no. I’m attending to be a softie.”

There might be quarterbacks from 12 of the SEC’s 14 faculties.

Along with Jefferson, different SEC quarterbacks on the Academy are Alabama’s Bryce Younger, who received the Heisman Trophy final yr; Georgia’s Stetson Bennett, who helped the Bulldogs beat Alabama to win the nationwide championship; South Carolina’s Spencer Rattler; Kentucky’s Will Levis; Florida’s Anthony Richardson; Mississippi State’s Will Rogers; LSU’s Myles Brennan; Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker; Ole Miss’ Luke Altmyer; Texas A&M’s Max Johnson; and Vanderbilt’s Mike Wright.

“It’s at all times enjoyable to get to know the fellows and construct relationships with the quarterbacks in our convention, and different conferences as effectively,” Jefferson mentioned. “On Saturday, we all know we’re competing with one another, nevertheless it’s all love on the finish of the day.

“With the ability to be down there with these guys, and discuss ball and discuss totally different data of the sport, and choose one another’s brains, it’s at all times good.

“It’s at all times good to be round different quarterbacks with elite expertise and see what they know.”

Archie and Eli Manning each performed quarterback at Ole Miss, then within the NFL. Peyton Manning performed quarterback at Tennessee, then within the NFL and is a Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame inductee.

Cooper Manning was going to play receiver at Ole Miss earlier than retiring from soccer due to a spinal situation.

“It’s at all times a household affair,” Archie Manning instructed Nola.com. “One of many issues I’m most happy with is that Cooper, Peyton and Eli haven’t missed one minute of the camp in 25 years.”

Jefferson mentioned he attended some Ole Miss video games when he performed at North Panola Excessive College and bought to satisfy Eli and Peyton Manning. He mentioned he met Archie Manning via his highschool coach, Carl Diffee.

“They’re actually cool,” Jefferson mentioned of the Mannings. “It’s simple to have a dialog with them.

“I’m trying ahead to having the ability to be taught from these guys, studying about what it takes to get to the subsequent degree and to additionally achieve success on the subsequent degree.

“I need to go down there and be a sponge and absorb all of the data I can.”

Different school quarterbacks who will function counselors with ties to the state are Texas State’s Layne Hatcher and Japanese Michigan’s Taylor Powell.

Hatcher, who’s from Little Rock and starred at Pulaski Academy Excessive College, performed at Arkansas State College for 3 seasons after redshirting at Alabama.

Powell, a standout at Fayetteville Excessive College, performed at Troy final season after starting his school profession at Missouri.

The faculty quarterbacks will participate in a expertise competitors at 8:30 p.m Friday at John L Guidry Stadium. They’ll undergo a collection of drills, in line with Nola.com, to gauge their accuracy, arm energy and route throwing versatility. The occasion is open to the general public. Admission is $15.

“I bear in mind after I first began this camp,” Archie Manning instructed Nola.com. “Everyone mentioned it was going to be nothing however a recruiting camp for Tennessee and Ole Miss.

“We don’t need something to do with recruiting at this camp. Our objective is to not develop school or professional quarterbacks. Our mission is to reinforce the highschool soccer expertise.”

Jefferson labored at a youth camp Tuesday in Fayetteville together with Arkansas teammates Jalen Catalon and Jadon Haselwood that was sponsored by Outdated Spice and Walmart.

Talking with the children, Jefferson mentioned, reminded him of camps he attended when he was their age.

“I thank my dad and mom and my coaches additionally for bringing me out and getting an opportunity to be in an atmosphere like this,” Jefferson mentioned. “Simply studying from the older guys that labored on the camps I attended.

“I instructed them to have enjoyable. Simply encourage one another, present one another some love and have enjoyable.

“That’s the principle factor, have enjoyable and meet new individuals and construct relationships.”

That’s what Jefferson plans to do on the Manning Passing Academy as effectively.