KJ Jefferson opens up on how to keep Arkansas team together through struggles

Arkansas lost its fourth straight game on Saturday to Ole Miss, and its was the third loss by just one score. It’s been a tough stretch for quarterback KJ Jefferson and the Razorbacks.

So how does the team go about regrouping, especially with No. 11 Alabama the next up?

“Just having faith in each other,” Jefferson explained. “I mean just each and every day at practice and in the locker room as well, just make sure we’re still bonded together, we’re still having fun, we’re still in the moment and we’re still passionate about the team and this sport and the state.”

Jefferson himself has had some mixed results, with turnovers an issue during the recent win streak.

In the team’s first two games of the season, both wins, Jefferson did not throw an interception and put together a 73.8% completion percentage.

Since then he’s thrown an interception in every game and his completion percentage has dipped to 64.8%. He has thrown five interceptions in the last three games.

Still, he views the goal of keeping the team together in pretty simple terms.

“Just being able to keep guys amongst each other and not divided, starting the blaming game and stuff like that,” Jefferson said. “Just making sure we all stay together and we all stick together.”

KJ Jefferson disappointed with Ole Miss loss

If there was anyone that took the Ole Miss loss particularly hard it was Jefferson, a Mississippi native. He wanted that one.

“I know it was special for him coming back, wanted to win,” coach Sam Pittman said. “But I think he played his heart out. I think if you ask him, he’d probably take a couple two, three, four throws back that’s part of the game. I felt like he led extremely well tonight and played very hard.”

Jefferson finished the 27-20 loss to Ole Miss 25-of-39 passing for 250 yards and two touchdowns, but he also had two interceptions. He ran 17 times but for just 11 yards.

Like everyone else, he’s ready to put the loss behind him and move on.

“He’s just like everybody else on the team,” Pittman said. “He’s got to continue to get better as well. I know he played extremely hard.”