How Arkansas QB KJ Jefferson will challenge Penn State football
A unique challenge awaits Penn State football in the form of Arkansas quarterback KJ Jefferson.
Like many programs around the college game, Arkansas relies on its signal-caller to run the football. Jefferson leads the Razorbacks in rushing attempts with 126.
But, while many quarterbacks rely on their elusiveness, Jefferson is capable of picking up those hard yards between the tackles. He stands at 6-foot-3, 245 pounds.
“He can throw the ball a mile, and he can run with power,” Penn State safeties coach and interim defensive coordinator Anthony Poindexter said.
“It’s a little bit different. When you think of a running quarterback, you think of them being elusive and stuff like that. He’s got a little bit of that to him, but he really can square the shoulders up, get downhill and take on linebackers, linemen.”
Jefferson finished the season with 554 rushing yards and five touchdowns for an average of 4.4 yards per carry.
He’s also a distinct weapon in the passing game. He threw for 2,578 yards in the regular season, including 21 touchdowns and just three interceptions.
Penn State will counter the Razorback offense with a severely depleted defensive unit. Defensive linemen Arnold Ebiketie and Derrick Tangelo, linebackers Ellis Brooks and Brandon Smith; and safety Jaquan Brisker have already opted out of the game.
That leaves the Nittany Lions without five starters — plus their defensive coordinator, after Brent Pry left to become Virginia Tech’s head coach.
“It’s challenging,” Franklin said. “What I would say is I’m focused on the guys that are in our locker room. That doesn’t mean that I’m not happy and excited and supportive of the guys that are not, but I’m excited about the guys that are in our locker room and I’m excited about the guys that are gonna have bigger roles.”
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The offense that those with newly elevated roles will encounter is one that starts and ends with the running game, according to Franklin.
He said it’s obvious that the Razorbacks want to run the football, but added that they rely on play-action and run-pass options to keep defenses honest.
“It starts with the quarterback,” Franklin said of Jefferson. “Big, physical, mature guy.”
Penn State excelled at shutting down quarterbacks in the ground game during the regular season. In six of their 11 games against FBS opponents, the Lions held the opposing starting QB to negative rushing yards due to sack yardage.
Auburn’s slippery signal-caller Bo Nix carried the ball seven times for 19 yards against Penn State. Michigan State’s Payton Thorne produced the most prolific rushing performance of any quarterback Penn State faced. He ran eight times for 39 yards in the final game of the season in the East Lansing snow.
Containing quarterbacks in the pocket became a priority for the Nittany Lion defense. Pry explained more than once that Penn State had slowed down its pass rush in order to do so more effectively.
But with five of Penn State’s season-opening front-seven out, Jefferson’s size makes him a different task entirely.
“He presents a lot of challenges,” Poindexter said. “And, plus, he can throw the ball. He’ll be a challenge to stop, but I think our kids will be up to it.”
