By Otis Kirk

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas’ offense will as soon as be beneath the steering of Kendal Briles with quarterback KJ Jefferson working it.

Briles is happy to have Jefferson again as a redshirt junior. This would be the second yr for Jefferson to enter the season because the first-team quarterback. Briles made it clear on Friday what he thinks of Jefferson.

“Time will inform, ?,” Briles mentioned. “Time will inform. All of it issues with the passing recreation with how we’re working the ball and the way we’re defending. There’s so many variables. How they’re taking part in us. In the event that they’re taking part in us off, we’re going to run the soccer. So, there’s so many variables which you can have a look at and say ‘heck, he solely threw for 150 yards.’ Backside line is he’s a winner. We all know he’s a winner. Whenever you’re a quarterback, to be an incredible quarterback, you must win soccer video games. I imagine in him, and I wouldn’t commerce him for anyone in American on the subject of profitable soccer video games. Nevertheless we’ve acquired to do it, we’ve acquired to do it.”

Briles is impressed with how Jefferson has stepped up as a frontrunner on the group.

“You hit it proper there, it’s simply main,” Briles mentioned. “It’s been so nice to have a man that’s executed it. As a result of when he talks, they hear, and that wasn’t the case this time a yr in the past. This time a yr in the past, we actually had no concept what he may do on the sector. Earlier than you get on the sector with dwell bullets, you simply actually don’t know. So now we all know what we’ve got from a aggressive standpoint. His improvement as a real quarterback, throwing the soccer, seeing reads, his management abilities within the locker room, throughout summer season exercises. Every thing he’s executed, he’s put himself in place to have an incredible yr. Extremely happy together with his work ethic. And the way in which that he’s mentored a few of the youthful guys. Simply attempting to get them… I don’t need to say taking part in on his stage, however he’s taking part in at a reasonably excessive stage in apply proper now. To get these guys on the identical web page has been spectacular to look at, so I’m fairly happy with him.”

Jefferson talked about how he feels his management abilities have improved essentially the most.

“Simply being extra vocal,” Jefferson mentioned. “When issues aren’t going proper, with the ability to simply name the entire offense up and set it straight proper then and there as a substitute of ready and letting it form of dwell and hold constructing into a much bigger drawback. So simply stopping it proper then and there and being extra vocal.”

As one would count on, Jefferson leads the quarterback effectivity rankings on the Razorbacks.

“Proper now, KJ is main that group, Cade Fortin is true behind him and Malik Hornsby is behind him,” Briles mentioned. “Clearly, KJ is working with a little bit bit increased caliber of participant and O-line. However he’s additionally taking part in in opposition to it too. There’s DB’s and guys which can be making performs. So, I’m happy with the place they’re at. We’ve been practising in opposition to this protection. I used to be speaking to Kyle on the way in which over right here. We’ve been practising in opposition to these guys for a very long time it looks like. So, we’re able to get on and begin preparing for Cincinnati.”

Fortin is a switch from South Florida and walked on at Arkansas. Fortin was a four-star recruit out of Suwanee (Ga.) North Gwinnett Excessive College within the Class of 2018. He signed with North Carolina and performed there two seasons earlier than heading to USF for one more couple of years. He and Hornsby each drew some reward from Briles as he talked in regards to the backup quarterback spot.

“Yeah, he’s executed a very good job,” Briles mentioned of Fortin. “Each these guys, I really feel like, we undoubtedly belief on the sector. They usually’re each a little bit completely different. Cade can transfer round a little bit bit, however he’s a man that may get again there and deal the ball. After which clearly with Malik and his velocity and what he does to the protection with plus-one recreation and nonetheless with the ability to throw the soccer down the sector, we really feel actually good about each these guys in the event that they’re known as upon.”

Having the ability to get two scholarship quarterbacks at different faculties to stroll on at Arkansas speaks volumes about this system Briles mentioned. Final yr, Kade Renfro came to visit from Ole Miss.

“It’s big, ,” Briles mentioned. “I don’t know what it says. I understand how it feels. It feels good having them within the quarterback room. These guys are Energy 5 scholarship quarterbacks, they usually’re in our room, they usually’re paying for his or her college. I believe it reveals that this program is on the rise. I believe it reveals that these children belief what we’ve got occurring right here. After which, we talked in regards to the switch portal earlier. , guys can get in there and sit in there for some time and never have a house and possibly not get precisely what they need. And I believe that’s one other good use for the portal. Guys that sit in there for a very long time, and in the event that they’re given hope – whether or not that’s monetarily or not with a scholarship – then you will get some guys in your campus. When you get a man over right here to Fayetteville and present him the place and let him really feel our tradition, then they need to be part of it.”

In 2021, Jefferson handed for two,676 yards and 21 touchdowns whereas solely throwing 4 interceptions. A kind of was a Hail Mary at halftime of the Ole Miss recreation. Briles likes how Jefferson protects the soccer.

“That’s correlated to the middle Ricky Stromberg as effectively, and the working backs and the fellows which can be meshing with the soccer,” Briles mentioned. “There’s numerous guys that contact the ball, however the middle and quarterback are touching it each snap. Our No. 1 aim each recreation isn’t any turnovers. We speak about it each time we take the sector for any possession throughout the recreation. That’s the No. 1 aim of our offense is defending the soccer. We did a very nice job of that final yr. We had 9 whole going into the bowl recreation then had two within the bowl recreation. If we will proceed to guard the ball at a excessive stage, our protection goes to get turnovers and we’ll have an opportunity to win video games. That’s the place you need to be.”

Jefferson additionally led the Razorbacks in dashing with 664 yards and 6 touchdowns. Briles was requested if he’s superb with the quarterback topping the group in dashing?

“I’m completely cool profitable soccer video games,” Briles mentioned. “I’m not a stats man. Stats are good as a result of folks lie and numbers don’t, however I like profitable. Nevertheless we’ve acquired to win, I don’t care. If the protection scores two safeties and we win 4-0, we received. It’s all about profitable soccer video games. Now it’s not going to be blissful and we’re not going to be enthusiastic about it, nevertheless it’s all about profitable video games. I don’t care how we do it.”

Briles additionally defined in what areas Jefferson has improved his accuracy.

“I believe his footwork,” Briles mentioned. “His footwork has been key for all of that. There have been instances final yr, I’m positive, that everyone sees it, there have been instances when he was stagnant within the pocket, standing straight up. His footwork has been actually, actually good. That’s been a degree of emphasis for us, and he’s executed an amazing job with that. We’re more than happy with that and it’s serving to his accuracy.”

Arkansas is about to scrimmage for the second time on Saturday because the season is simply over two weeks away. Jefferson talked about how apply has gone thus far.

“It’s been enjoyable,” Jefferson mentioned. “Very aggressive. Each day we’re coming on the market to get higher. Maintain pushing for perfection. Simply being good on each side of the ball, all phases of the sport. Particular groups as effectively. Thus far, so good. All people’s having enjoyable, all people’s competing and flying round.”

Jefferson talked in regards to the effectivity of the offense thus far.

“It’s been up and down, right here and there,” Jefferson mentioned. “However to this point all people’s been good. We’ve been on the rise. We’ve simply acquired to wash up these small particulars. We are able to’t harm ourselves. We all know on this league we will’t get behind the chains. Making an attempt to remain forward of the chains in sure situations and conditions that Coach Pittman places us in. … Keep out of third-and-long on these kinds of situations.”

Arkansas will open the season on Saturday, Sept. 3, after they host Cincinnati at 2:30 p.m. in Razorback Stadium.