Greg McElroy likes pairing between KJ Jefferson, Dan Enos in Arkansas offense

College football analyst Greg McElroy ranked his top quarterbacks in the SEC heading into the 2023 season and ranked Arkansas quarterback KJ Jefferson No. 3 on his list. Jefferson is entering his third season as the Razorbacks’ starter and is doing so with a new offensive coordinator, which McElroy believes could be a recipe for success in Fayetteville.

“At number three, KJ Jefferson at Arkansas,” McElroy. “Now this one’s a little bit more based on upside, also a year of transition. Kendal Briles no longer there, in comes Dan Enos from Maryland. He’s done a good job in the past in the SEC, is familiar, has been at Arkansas, has been at Alabama, spent some time at Miami, he’s been kind of around all over the place. But he’s going to implement an RPO style of attack and Dan Enos understands the quarterback position really really well.”

Enos is a veteran coach with over 30 years of experience to his name, and Jefferson definitely fits the mold of a veteran collegiate quarterback. Jefferson has struggled at times in certain spots during his career, but Enos could help clean up some of his mistakes and polish his game.

“Part of KJ Jefferson’s issues are the inconsistencies, when he’s at his best there are few players in college football that do it as well as he does. The problem is there are examples where he’s not at his best, it might even be from quarter to quarter,” McElroy said. “You think about how well he played against Texas A&M last year in the first half of that football game and then he tries to score a touchdown, would’ve essentially put the game on ice, reaches the ball out, it gets knocked away, fumble, Texas A&M takes it to the house. Next thing you know he’s a completely different player. He’s been streaky at times in his career.”

Jefferson’s lowlights are definitely outshined by his highlights, as he’s proven to be one of the most dynamic dual-threat quarterbacks in the country over the past two seasons. He’s thrown for 48 touchdowns and rushed for 19 scores during his career at Arkansas, and could add to both of those totals exponentially this season in the Razorbacks’ offense this season.

“6’3, 240 pounds, can be dynamic not just in the pass game but also in the run game as well. 20 passing touchdowns, makes good decisions too, doesn’t take a lot of unnecessary risk, just five interceptions last year and he added 15 scores on the ground. He’s gonna continue to compliment that run game with Rocket Sanders and you would anticipate what I this is going to be a pretty good group of wide receivers, an excellent transfer tight end from North Texas, this passing attack might be pretty good,” McElroy said.

There’s no doubt the talent and big play ability is there for Jefferson, but consistency will be the key for him according to McElroy. And hopefully for Razorback fans, Enos can help channel that consistency and help take Arkansas to new heights this season.

“It’s just about how consistent will he be, I can’t have the rollercoasters,” McElroy said. “He’s been a rollercoaster at times the last couple years, I’m hoping so much that we get the best of what KJ Jefferson can offer on a week-to-week basis. Because if we get that, he could find himself at the top spot in the SEC.”