FAYETTEVILLE — University of Arkansas quarterback KJ Jefferson warmed hearts on a cold, windy Friday night in Northwest Arkansas by announcing he will return for his senior season in 2023.
Jefferson made the announcement on social media, thanking God and his mother to open his post, as well as Coach Sam Pittman and offensive coordinator Kendal Briles.
“I have learned so much from Coach Pittman and Coach Briles on and off the field and can’t thank them enough,” Jefferson wrote.
“As for the Arkansas fans, I have always loved playing for you and all the support you have given me is unmatched. With that said, it’s time to fulfill my dreams. … And my dreams wouldn’t be complete without one more year on the Hill. Go Hogs.”
The draft-eligible redshirt junior from Sardis, Miss., has emerged as one of the nation’s top quarterbacks in two seasons as the Arkansas starter. The Razorbacks are 15-8 in games Jefferson has started since the 6-3, 242-pounder took the reins in 2021.
In the two games Jefferson missed this year due to a concussion and a shoulder injury, respectively, the Razorbacks averaged 366 yards and 13.5 points in a 40-17 loss at Mississippi State and a 13-10 home loss to LSU.
With Jefferson in the lineup, the Razorbacks went 6-4, lost three games by two points and averaged 471.3 yards and 34.1 points per game.
Jefferson has advanced into the top 10 in the UA record books in multiple categories, including fourth in touchdown responsibility with 63.
The dual-threat quarterback owns the second- and third-best completion-percentage seasons in Arkansas history with his 68.3% this year and 67.3% in 2021. Feleipe Franks holds the school record with 68.5% completions in 2020. Jefferson can challenge that record with a strong performance in the Razorbacks’ bowl game.
Jefferson’s decision came soon after University of Arkansas Coach Sam Pittman ended four days of player exit interviews following the Razorbacks’ 6-6 regular season. Multiple Razorbacks have entered the transfer portal in recent days and fellow junior Jadon Haselwood announced he was declaring for the NFL Draft on Monday.
Jefferson was ranked as the nation’s No. 9 quarterback among Power 5 schools by Pro Football Focus this week and he also ranks No. 9 in FBS pass efficiency with a 165.29 rating.
Jefferson has completed 185 of 271 passes for 2,361 yards this season, with 22 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. He has also rushed for 510 yards, second on the team behind Raheim Sanders’ 1,426 yards, and 7 touchdowns.
Jefferson is eighth in UA history with 5,529 passing yards, seventh with 46 touchdown passes and tied with Matt Jones for seventh with 417 completions.
Jefferson is 2,236 yards shy of Tyler Wilson’s school-record 7,765 passing yards and 18 touchdowns short of Brandon Allen’s school-record 64 touchdown passes.
WASHINGTON COUNTY, Ark. – UCF quarterback KJ Jefferson was arrested in Arkansas on Wednesday, arrest records show.
The 22-year-old Arkansas transfer was taken into custody at 2:13 p.m. and was released 21 minutes later, according to online records from Washington County, Arkansas.
His charge is listed as “MISD COMM,” which is a common misdemeanor. FOX 35 has reached out to the Fayetteville Police Department for more information.
FOX 35 has learned that the charge relates to an alleged reckless driving and speeding incident from May 2023, before he transferred to UCF. He reportedly traveled to Arkansas on Tuesday, and turned himself in on Wednesday to move the case forward.
Head coach Gus Malzahn shared the following statement with FOX 35:
“I have been fully aware of this situation that took place in May 2023 prior to his arrival at UCF. Since KJ has been here, he’s been a great leader and an exemplary member of our program.”
Jefferson addressed the incident on his Instagram Story on Wednesday afternoon. He said he was in Fayetteville for his court date and was ordered to three days of community service.
“That’s why y’all see my mugshot and all of that. I don’t know why they did all that stuff for community service. But that’s what happened,” Jefferson said in the video. “It was a speeding ticket. I came back to Fayetteville only because I had court and to pay my fine and everything for speeding. And I take full accountability for my actions and what I did. You know what I’m saying. All that extra stuff about ‘KJ did this,’ and he – all these narratives y’all trying to plant, that’s not true, bro. Alright. I had a speeding ticket.”
Jefferson announced his transfer from the Razorbacks program to UCF in January. He enrolled in the 2024 spring semester and participated in the UCF Spring Game last Friday, his official debut for the Knights. He threw two touchdowns for 271 yards.