KJ Jefferson details improvement from Malik Hornsby this offseason

K.J. Jefferson and Malik Hornsby may play the same position, but the two quarterbacks are helping each other to grow and learn while looking to bring unrivaled success to the Arkansas Razorbacks.

While Hornsby may not supplant Jefferson as the team’s starting quarterback, the future is bright and Arkansas will find a way to get him on the field. Speaking with the media, Jefferson spoke of the improvement he’s seen from Hornsby throughout the offseason.

“He’s came a long way,” began Jefferson. “Just understanding, from a quarterback standpoint, knowing that we’re in the role to where everybody looks up to you. Everybody’s looking for you to have the right answer each and every time. We’ll have an answer each and every time something goes wrong. Being able to just have him grow up and me just try to model myself as a great role model for him, that he can look up to and come to me in certain situations where he needs an answer, or he needs help with this. I can be able to give him an answer straight off with no questions asked.

“So just being able to just be a positive role model for him, and he just takes it straight on and learns from it.”

Moreover, Hornsby joined Arkansas in 2020 as the No. 12 quarterback in the class according to On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average. After redshirting as a true freshman, he played in seven games this past season to finish 5-of-12 passing for 46 yards. He also added 136 yards rushing and a touchdown on 24 attempts.

Evidently, Jefferson believes there’s multiple ways Hornsby can fit into the team’s offensive scheme, as the quarterback laid out.

“Just the athleticism that he has and he brings to the table,” Jefferson said. “When two quarterbacks are on the field, you don’t know what’s going on. You don’t know who’s gonna have the ball. Just being able to create chaos for the defensive side of the ball and having a guy like Malik with his athleticism and being able to hand him the ball, he stretches the defense. Or you don’t know if he’s gonna throw the ball deep.

“So being able to have two quarterbacks on the field is an advantage. We like it.”

Whether Malik Hornsby is on the field at quarterback, running back or wide receiver, he’ll be a valuable addition to the Arkansas offense throughout the 2022 season.