Arkansas still feels like ‘dirt under a rug,’ QB says

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas received 9 soccer video games final season for the primary time since Bobby Petrino’s ultimate two seasons in 2010 and 2011, however the Hogs aren’t precisely feeling the love getting into 12 months No. 3 underneath Sam Pittman.

“Within the earlier years, Arkansas was at all times slept on, and we’re nonetheless filth underneath a rug,” redshirt junior quarterback KJ Jefferson advised ESPN on Wednesday. “Now, it is simply getting again that workman mentality that coach Pittman instilled in us, simply that blue-collar, hard-nosed, put-your-head-down mentality. No person’s going to really feel sorry for you, and every one in all us have purchased into that.

“This program has been on the rise, and we’ll hold constructing and get again on high the place Arkansas belongs.”

Arkansas was ranked twenty third within the AFCA preseason coaches ballot earlier this week, however Pittman made certain his gamers noticed ESPN’s Soccer Energy Index rankings, which had the Hogs final among the many seven SEC Western Division groups.

“I took it down there to indicate the gamers, did not inform them who did the rankings or something, and I go searching and say, ‘We received ’em proper the place we would like ’em,’” Pittman joked. “We can’t ever have an issue of getting an enormous head till we ever get ranked 1, as a result of I am going to use it if we’re 2, use it if we’re 10 and use it if we’re out of it. Our children thrive on s— like that as a result of they know the place we have come from.”

The Hogs had misplaced 19 straight SEC video games when Pittman took over as coach throughout the 2000 COVID-19 season. Their dramatic turnaround in 12 months 2 underneath Pittman included wins over each Texas and Texas A&M, the primary time that had occurred since 1988, the primary of back-to-back Southwest Convention championships for Arkansas.

The Hogs’ schedule in 2022 will once more be one of many hardest within the nation, as all 12 of their opponents certified to play or performed within the postseason a yr in the past. Arkansas opens the season at dwelling on Sept. 3 in opposition to Cincinnati (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN). The Bearcats performed within the Faculty Soccer Playoff final season.

“I imply, we adore it once we get the toughest schedule,” Jefferson stated. “The Las Vegas odds come out, and we’re at all times the underdogs. We adore it. It is simply one other probability to show everyone mistaken and are available out with an upset. So we all know we have got the toughest schedule once more, and it is put up or shut up. It is the identical as final yr. All people was counting us out this time final yr, too.”

Jefferson was one of many SEC’s breakout stars a yr in the past in his first season because the starter. He handed for two,676 yards and 21 touchdowns, and led the staff with 664 dashing yards and 6 extra touchdowns on the bottom. Jefferson accomplished 67.3 p.c of his passes and was one in all 5 FBS quarterbacks to complete with 20 or extra landing passes with 4 or fewer interceptions.

In 2022, Jefferson is satisfied he shall be even higher. Constructed extra like a defensive finish, the 6-foot-3 Jefferson is right down to 240 kilos and desires to be nearer to 235 by the beginning of the season. He performed at 250 a yr in the past.

“I can inform it within the pocket, simply with the ability to transfer round and get out faster if I have to,” Jefferson stated. “I do not suppose lots of people anticipated me to do what I did final yr carrying 250 kilos. Now that I’ve dropped the load, I believe there shall be a complete new explosiveness to my sport.”

Pittman stated Jefferson has seemed “lighter and sooner” this preseason camp, and whereas Pittman would like that his quarterback not take as many hits this season, he can even watch out to not over-coach Jefferson.

“I keep in mind within the Texas sport final yr, KJ broke away and had some open area and he sees the protection and goes operating after the protection and there is this massive collision,” Pittman recounted. “The protection goes low on him, however KJ is making an attempt to run over the rattling man. I say, ‘KJ, man, you gotta run away from him.’ He seems to be at me and says, ‘Simply making an attempt to set the tone, Coach.’ You need him to be sensible, however you additionally do not wish to coach that character out of him.”

Jefferson stated having a 3rd straight season underneath offensive coordinator Kendal Briles was an enormous plus. Briles turned down an opportunity to go to Miami this offseason and remained at Arkansas.

“It is the self-discipline he brings and letting me know that you would be able to’t pressure every part,” Jefferson stated of Briles. “All the things that appears good won’t be good. He is helped me perceive the significance of creating performs throughout the offense, not making an attempt to do an excessive amount of or going in opposition to what he is saying. I do know when he is giving me a play that he is giving me that play for a motive and that he is trusting me to go execute that play to the most effective of my skill.”