KJ Jefferson opens up about how his game has changed under new Arkansas OC Dan Enos

Arkansas quarterback KJ Jefferson is one of the only remaining vestiges of the 2022 Razorback offense. Most of the playmakers around him have changed and so has the offensive coordinator after head coach Sam Pittman signed Dan Enos to be the new OC following the departure of Kendal Briles.

Jefferson is taking all the changes in stride. It’s a new regime than when he first took over as the starter back in the fall of 2020, but now, it’s on the veteran quarterback to lead the offense and bring all these new faces together. So, when the SEC Network caught up with him at the spring game on Saturday, he said he’s focusing on the little things, those leadership type of traits.

“Just being able to pay attention to smaller details. I mean, as a new coordinator comes in, new system, everybody had to adjust. So I treated it as adversity, and just being able to have adversity in my life and knowing how to cope with it and be able to overcome it. So just doing the little details, staying after practice, looking at film, studying my playbook all weekend. So just being able to be dedicated and be disciplined to know what I have to do and what’s ahead of me.”

After an up-and-down season that featured a slew of injury issues, Jefferson is looking forward to improving and coming out as a better quarterback this September than he was last time out.

“I mean, there’s always room for improvement, because I’m so hard on myself and I have a higher ceiling, so there’s always room for improvement. But I’m loving it, it’s fun being in shotgun more now. But I mean, it’s fun just being able to get under center and call different audibles and stuff like that that gets me prepared for the next level. So I’m enjoying it. It’s fun. Like you said, fundamentals, Coach Enos really that’s his thing. So just being very fundamental — lower body, footwork, always active, always moving in the pocket, eyes downfield — all the traits to being an elite quarterback.”

Lastly, Jefferson was asked by the SECN crew how he’s getting along with his new wideouts. Apparently, the bonding process is going well.

“I mean, getting those guys in on the weekends and in the offseason, just being able to learn how those guys run routes and just get a timing thing down. And also just coming in and picking their brains a little bit. Just being able to sit down, draw up some plays, what they’re thinking. So just being able to get in and pick their brains a little bit, just really harp on the details, and especially in this offense.”

KJ Jefferson sounding every bit like the leader you’d hope for on your football team. Should be a big year ahead for No. 1 in red.