UA quarterback at his best during FC meet and greet
Instead of throwing touchdowns or running for first downs, Arkansas Razorback quarterback K.J. Jefferson spent close to two hours meeting, talking, signing and taking photos with an extremely large and vocal contingent of Arkansas football fans Thursday morning at Armor Bank in Forrest City.
Jefferson heads into his second season as the Razorbacks starting quarterback and he has some new armor.
The Hogs junior has an NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) deal with Arkansas-based Armor Bank for the upcoming season, according to the bank, which refers to the way college athletes can receive compensation. Using an athlete's NIL involves a brand leveraging their name, image and or likeness through marketing or promotional endeavors, allowing athletes to better make money from their image or name.
The NCAA move to allow the NIL broke with decades of not permitting college athletes money making opportunities.
This past Razorback season, Jefferson completed 67.3 percent of his passes for 2,676 yards with 21 touchdowns and four interceptions last year. On top of that, he ran for a team-high 664 yards and six touchdowns.
He completed 171 consecutive passes without an interception, the second-longest streak in program history. He finished the season as one of only five FBS quarterbacks to total 20 or more touchdown passes with four or fewer interceptions.
Jefferson led Arkansas to a 9-4 record in 2021, its best season mark since 2011, capping the season with a win over Penn State in the Outback Bowl.
In an epic performance at Ole Miss, Jefferson completed 25-of35 (71.4 percent) passes for 336 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 85 yards and three scores, accounting for six touchdowns – the second-most total in program history – in the high-scoring shootout. He became one of only six SEC signal-callers since 2000 to throw for three touchdowns and rushed for three scores in a game, joining Texas A&M QB Johnny Manziel, Mississippi State QB Dak Prescott, Ole Miss QB Chad Kelly, LSU QB Joe Burrow and Ole Miss QB Matt Corral.
“In Arkansas, we all know KJ Jefferson’s name. As a community bank, names are important to us,” Armor Bank chairman Mark Waldrip said in the press release.” We are excited to have KJ on our team. This relationship will highlight our shared priorities of speed, agility and strength.”
Through a tweet, Armor Bank said "We are proud to be the exclusive banking partner of quarterback KJ Jefferson. While KJ possesses the speed, agility & strength that we value as a bank, he also represents the hard work, determination & humility that we value even more."
Jefferson highlighted two autograph signings this month, Thursday in Forrest City and in Little Rock on Friday.
At the Forrest City appearance Thursday, the line of Arkansas Razorback fans formed outside the bank before Jefferson even arrived to autograph photos, sign tee shirts, footballs, helmets and whatever else the fans brought to the event.
Jefferson, while flashing his smile to those who were waiting their turn to meet him, shake his hand and hopefully have a word or two, appeared to be as comfortable at the table sat up for him in the bank's main lobby as he appears to be on the playing turf.
Jefferson greeted Lee
Academy student athletes one by one, posing for photos before entertaining the PalestineWheatley student athletes, Forrest City athletes and the younger children from one of the local success schools, as well as shaking hands with the moms, dads, granddads and grandmothers. Jim Bailey's Fireballers team also joined the party and like the others, posed for a team photo with Jefferson.
"Our kids had a blast," Lee Academy football coach Mitchell Smith text later Thursday afternoon. "It was awesome," seemed to be the most common comment made by the Lee Academy players, Smith added.
One year ago, Jefferson was listed as the 14th best quarterback in the 14-team SEC. This year, he’s found himself outside the top four or five quarterbacks in the conference by various prognosticators and analysts.
Earlier this month. Jefferson was named to the preseason watch list for the Maxwell Award.
The Razorback quarterback is one of 85 players included on the watch list for the award presented annually to the best player in college football. Semifinalists for this year’s Maxwell Award will be announced Nov. 1, 2022, while the three finalists will be unveiled Nov. 22, 2022.
Arkansas opens the season at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 3, against Cincinnati on ESPN. Season tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by calling the Razorback Ticket Center at (479) 575-5151.