Coaches and players celebrate the impact of QB on Razorbacks
|Next the loss to Missouri, the Arkansas coaches and players showed their support for quarterback Jefferson, even if he hasn’t formally decided whether to rejoin the Razorbacks for the next campaign.
The Razorbacks’ season came to an end on Friday as No. 9 Missouri easily trounced Arkansas 48-14. On the game’s second drive, quarterback KJ Jefferson hyperextended his knee and did not come back. Without the senior leader, the Arkansas attack was appalling and failed to score in either of the game’s opening three quarters.
This season, Jefferson surpassed all previous Razorback quarterbacks in passing yards, passing touchdowns, and touchdowns accounted for. Given the challenging season the club experienced, the injury sustained in the year’s final game must have been tremendously frustrating.
“I imagine it’s disappointing,” Sam Pittman, the head coach, stated. “There are one hundred of those in [the changing area] who are also dissatisfied. However, I’m sure it’s disappointing. KJ has experienced so many wonderful times here. That’s not his legacy at all if he spends even a moment thinking about this game where he was injured.
“I know he’s disappointed that he couldn’t play the whole game and support his team, but in the last four years, he’s been a huge asset to our program—he even played a really nice game in our inaugural season when he traveled to Missouri.”
Jefferson is a redshirt senior, although he still has one year left to be eligible. Many Arkansas supporters started to speculate about the quarterback’s future when he made a social media comment suggesting that Friday’s game might be his final one with the Razorbacks.
Pittman answered, “I’m not sure.” We haven’t had a conversation about it in person. To be honest, if he put that out there, it probably means he’s had all the college or all the Arkansas he wants. I never do till Monday with the guys. Simply put, I haven’t discussed it with him.
Jefferson’s untimely injury and subsequent withdrawal from the match had an impact on his teammates as well. They were disappointed to see the senior leader and captain leave the game, possibly for the last time while wearing an Arkansas outfit.
Offensive lineman Joshua Braun remarked, “It’s disappointing to see any of our players get hurt knowing how much effort and how much they desire to play this game.” “Anything that stops them from doing that hurts us as a team.”