NWADG College Football

8 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW | 8.27.2023 Jefferson was given the Razorbacks' most important locker this year on a row with seniors and closest to the exit to the field at Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Past team leaders who sat in that locker were linebackers De'Jon Harris, Grant Morgan and Bumper Pool. "ey were the main guys who took on the leadership role of the team," Jefferson said. "Now with me being in that locker, it's a big responsibility and a huge honor for me. We all signed our names in the locker. It was a blessing for me to put my name in the locker." Barring an injury beforehand, Jefferson will take the first snap when the Razorbacks open with a Sept. 2 game against Western Carolina at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. When he does, he will become the first Arkansas quarterback to start a game in five different seasons — a byproduct of the times that include an extra year of eligibility for college players who lived through the 2020 season that was disrupted by a pandemic, but also of Jefferson's skill and preparation. He started once as a true freshman in 2019 and redshirt freshman in 2020. Arkansas has a 16-8 record — including two bowl victories — in games he has started the past two seasons. Due to his longevity, it's no surprise Jefferson has a chance to close in on several career program offensive records in what is expected to be his final go- round in Fayetteville. e Sardis, Miss., native actually has another season of eligibility available to him, but the prevailing thought is he will probably enter the NFL Dra aer the 2023 campaign ends. Among the program records in the crosshairs this year: passing yards, total yards, completions, touchdown passes and touchdown responsibility. Jefferson has accounted for 67 touchdowns — 48 passing and 19 rushing — and is 10 shy of Matt Jones' program record of 77 touchdowns combined from 2001-04. Pro Football Focus rates Jefferson the ninth-best quarterback available for next year's dra. At least nine quarterbacks have been draed each year since 2016, and 14 were selected in the most recent dra. Jefferson's value may improve with the arrival of veteran offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Dan Enos, who has worked with several quarterbacks who are on NFL rosters this preseason — Tua Tagovailoa, Jalen Hurts and Mac Jones at Alabama, Brian Hoyer at Michigan State, Cooper Rush at Central Michigan and Brandon Allen at Arkansas. As quarterbacks coach, Enos helped recruit Kirk Cousins to Michigan State. Jefferson said he has benefitted from working with Enos. "He's a very dedicated, passionate coach," Jefferson said. "He loves what he's doing. I'm thankful to have him as a coach. He's helped develop me in ways and areas that I needed to mature in to be an elite quarterback in this offense and as I continue my playing career." Enos said Jefferson exhibits some of the work ethic and physical traits of the professionals he coached in college. One comparison Enos made earlier this year was to the athleticism and passing ability of Hurts, the Philadelphia Eagles starter who played while Enos was an assistant for the Crimson Tide's 2018 team. "It's actually kind of exactly what you're looking for," Enos said, "if you really want to put defenses in a bind, is a guy that can beat you with his arm and his brain, but also can beat you with his legs." Jefferson's intelligence has stood out to Enos, who said the quarterback has a good understanding of the offense's all- around scheme, including protections for the offensive line and when to check in and out of running plays. "He's a really smart, smart young man," Enos said. "He's got great instincts….I told him, 'You're smart and you have great instincts, so trust them. You've Eyes n Continued from Page 6 See EYES, Page 10 KJ Jefferson | Arkansas Quarterback File Photo

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