Eighth in a collection previewing place teams for the Arkansas soccer staff.
FAYETTEVILLE — The mesh between College of Arkansas offensive coordinator Kendal Briles and dual-threat quarterback KJ Jefferson has to rank among the many prime elements concerned within the Razorbacks’ rise in soccer.
Requested a few weeks in the past what has saved him at Arkansas for a 3rd season, Briles was up entrance about his connection to Jefferson.
“Having KJ again, it could have been actually, actually laborious to take a look at KJ and inform him I wasn’t going to be right here, simply because I like the child and respect him a lot and wish him to have the ability to obtain his targets,” Briles stated.
Jefferson, 6-3 and 245 kilos, will enter his redshirt junior season as one of the vital gifted dual-threat quarterbacks within the nation. Briles stated Jefferson would be the first returning starter at quarterback he’s labored with in his profession as a coordinator.
Jefferson is the prototype quarterback to function Briles’ run-pass choice assault after the Razorbacks’ acquired stable manufacturing on the place from veteran switch Feleipe Franks in 2020.
Arkansas started to point out spine within the first season beneath Coach Sam Pittman with a 3-7 file in 2020 towards an All-SEC slate with the pocket-passing Franks breaking the school-record for single-season completion proportion (68.5%).
Jefferson’s top-notch operating and still-developing arm did simply high quality in 2021 with a 9-4 file and 4 trophy wins, together with a 24-10 Outback Bowl victory over Penn State through which Jefferson received excellent participant honors.
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“On the finish of the day, it’s about profitable on the quarterback place, and do you win soccer video games?” Briles stated. “You do this with loads of variables, however do you win? And he was capable of win video games final 12 months, and loads of occasions put the staff on his again and go do it. Actually happy with the place he’s at as a pacesetter, on and off the sphere.”
Jefferson not solely plugged extra naturally into Briles’ up-tempo assault, he additionally improved his passing accuracy because the season went on and wound up difficult Franks’ file by finishing 67.3% of his passes.
He additionally led the staff in dashing with 664 yards and averaged 4.5 yards per carry, with 174 yards in sacks and misplaced operating yardage included.
Not dangerous for a man who was rated the No. 14 quarterback within the SEC earlier than the season by one outlet, a truth Jefferson used for hearth and motivation all through the season.
Jefferson, talking after the Razorbacks’ modified scrimmage on April 16, talked concerning the methods he can enhance as a second-year starter.
“Simply being extra constant and being extra vocal as a pacesetter on the staff,” Jefferson stated. “Simply ensuring that once I communicate, I seize everyone’s consideration … and the principle factor once I step out on the sphere is I’m competing with different guys within the room as effectively and with myself.
“Simply me being disciplined on issues I have to make reads on and ensure I do know the place the ball must go and getting it there. So simply being disciplined, constant.”
Briles spoke concerning the nuances of enjoying the place as an space Jefferson can enhance.
“With issues that he wanted to get higher at, the RPO [run-pass option] world … and with the ability to put the ball into the stomach of the operating again and have the ability to snap actual quick and get it out and be correct with it, particularly to shifting targets,” Briles stated.
“The SEC West is tight home windows, and so that you’ve acquired to be very correct with it. That’s a few of the issues that we’ve been engaged on, to have the ability to be extremely quick and compact along with his launch to get the ball out and hit guys within the face, which is what we’re attempting to do. So he’s executed a very good job of that. And principally, his management I believe has been so key to the success of the offense shifting ahead.”
Jefferson’s worth final season went effectively past his management.
He ranked forty fourth within the nation with 256.9 whole yards per sport. His 164.66 cross effectivity score ranked fourth within the SEC and tenth within the nation.
Jefferson’s 21 to 4 touchdown-to-interception ratio ranked among the many greatest within the FBS ranks. He had a streak of 171 consecutive passes with out an interception, the second-longest ever at Arkansas, come to an finish early within the Outback Bowl.
Jefferson performed the overwhelming majority of significant snaps in 2021, simply as Franks did the season earlier than. However Razorback followers acquired a glimpse of the potential of backup quarterback Malik Hornsby in a few lengthy appearances.
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Hornsby, a 6-2, 187-pound redshirt sophomore, performed 20 consecutive snaps towards Texas A&M whereas Jefferson was out with a bruised knee, and he completed up a handful of video games, together with the Outback Bowl.
In opposition to the Aggies, he carried out a important 42-yard drive after a Montaric Brown interception that ended on Cam Little’s 24-yard discipline aim to provide the Razorbacks a 20-10 lead early within the fourth quarter.
Hornsby additionally completed up the Outback Bowl with a protracted ultimate collection on which he had runs 24 and 18 yards earlier than kneeling down contained in the Penn State 10-yard line to expire the clock.
Hornsby’s position in 2022 is prone to increase. After he entered the switch portal and returned in January, he was assured a high quality shot at competing for the quarterback job, but in addition dedicated to a trial at receiver, which he has been doing to rave opinions within the spring.
He had quite a few deep-ball receptions from Jefferson this spring, and he has additionally motioned into the backfield to play quarterback and get entangled in pitch performs.
The thought of cooking up choices for Hornsby has been pleasing for Briles.
“It’s a novel steadiness with him,” Briles stated. “To begin with, speaking quarterback, simply extremely happy with the place he’s at, mentally over the whole lot else.
“He’s acquired the power, everyone knows that. However taking good care of the soccer and making good selections is above all else enjoying that place. He’s been ready to try this. I’m actually, actually enthusiastic about the place he’s at. Clearly, we’re a little bit bit completely different if he’s enjoying the quarterback place.”
Briles stated Hornsby has executed a great job “attacking” the quarterback spot all through spring.
“He’s actually put stress on KJ the best way that he’s enjoying,” he stated. “Actually enthusiastic about what he’s executed there. He’s such an elite athlete.”
The transfer to receiver could possibly be a method for Arkansas to use his premier velocity.
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“Clearly, we misplaced loads of receivers, so attempting to provide a little bit enhance to that room,” Briles stated. “And [we’re] not doing a complete lot with him to be trustworthy with you, however simply discovering methods to have the ability to get him on the sphere and enjoying a number of completely different positions. In order that’s what we’ve been ready to do that spring. It’s been good to have the ability to have a look at.”
The quarterback room has not stayed constant in the course of the spring, as redshirt freshman Lucas Coley elected to enter the switch portal and wound up committing to Houston. Coley’s transfer got here quickly after spring break, as Pittman’s confidence and reward of switch Cade Fortin continued to rise.
Briles additionally praised Fortin, a 6-3, 221-pounder who initially signed with North Carolina earlier than transferring to South Florida, calling him good and low upkeep.
“I’d say he’s been excellent from a decision-making standpoint, aside from his determination on two-minute immediately the place he didn’t throw the ball out of bounds,” Briles stated lately. “Apart from that, he’s been nice. He’s nice within the room, the gamers like him, he’s an skilled man.
“So, I believe we stole one in getting him right here, and he’s really acquired two years. Nice to have him within the room. It’s wonderful that he’s right here and enjoying the quarterback place and the way good he’s, to have the ability to make selections and know what we’re doing.”
Quarterbacks look
RETURNING STARTERS KJ Jefferson (13 begins in 2021)
LOSSES John Stephen Jones, Lucas Coley
WHO’S BACK Malik Hornsby, Kade Renfro
WHO’S NEW Cade Fortin
WALK-ONS None
ANALYSIS Jefferson had a powerful first season as a starter, finishing 198 of 294 passes (.673) for two,676 yards and 21 touchdowns with 4 interceptions. He additionally rushed for 664 yards and a team-high 6 touchdowns. He ranked tenth within the FBS with a passer effectivity score of 164.7 and was forty fourth in whole offense (256.9 yards per sport). An space of enchancment for Jefferson heading into his junior season is bettering velocity and effectivity on his reads and throws within the RPO sport. Hornsby could possibly be one of the vital intriguing ability gamers for the Hogs, as the highest backup and a possible weapon within the receiving corps. Fortin was the one different participant on the place on the finish of spring after Coley transferred out.
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