Gus Malzahn: 'KJ Jefferson is physically the closest thing to Cam Newton that I've had'

Gus Malzahn has found another quarterback out of the NCAA transfer portal for UCF. Former Arkansas star KJ Jefferson will be taking over in Orlando, hoping to steer the Knights in a positive direction in the program’s second-ever Big 12 season.

The first thing you notice when looking at Jefferson is his 6-3, 247-pound frame. Arkansas was not afraid to use him in the run game, something Malzahn plans to do as well. But just from a physical standpoint, Jefferson is similar to a legendary quarterback Malzahn worked with while at Auburn.

“Dual-threat guy,” Malzahn said on Wednesday at Big 12 Media Days. “Physically, he’s the closest thing to Cam (Newton) that I’ve had. He’s like a running back. He throws a great deep ball. We’re a run, play-action team with emphasis on throwing the ball downfield.”

During his lone season on the Plains, Newton was listed at 6-6, 250 pounds. So, Jefferson is around the same weight but loses by a few inches to the former Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 overall pick. Malzahn was Newton’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, orchestrating one of the greatest seasons we have ever seen from a college QB.

There was actually a time when Malzahn considered taking Jefferson when still with Auburn. Jefferson was a member of the 2019 recruiting class and someone the Tigers wanted. However, Bo Nix wound up being the quarterback take that cycle.

But Malzahn kept his relationship with Jefferson throughout the years. All it took was entering the portal before the phone began to ring and finally bring the two sides together.

“I actually recruited him coming out of high school some,” Malzhan said. “That’s when we took Bo Nix, so we knew each other. When he went in the portal, he was our guy. So, we’re blessed to have him.”

Expectations for Jefferson with UCF are going to be high but likely not to the standard Newton. Arguably nobody in the game’s history has reached his level, at least in a single season — single-handedly winning Auburn a national championship in 2010.

Malzahn can see the similarities, though. Maybe we be able to see similar gameplans or play calls from back in the day. And you know UCF is going to want to run the ball. Jefferson, alongside running back RJ Harvey, set up to be one of the best one-two punches in the Big 12.