KJ Jefferson, Arkansas complete two-play opening drive with long Jaedon Wilson touchdown

You can’t ask for a better start to the season for Arkansas and KJ Jefferson. The veteran quarterback completed two passes for 79 yards and a touchdown on a two-play opening drive against Western Carolina.

Jaedon Wilson was on the receiving end of the 65-yard touchdown but did all the work on a three-yard out route to the flats. He sprinted around a block before showcasing his speed and running up the sideline for the score.

Wilson had three receptions for 49 yards all of last season. He’s sure to have won a few extra snaps after this performance. Check it out below:

It’s a great way for Jefferson to start the season, who played in 11 games last season and finished the campaign with 2,636 passing yards, 24 passing touchdowns and five interceptions on a 68.0% completion percentage for the Razorbacks in 2022. He also rushed for 640 yards and added another nine additional touchdowns on the ground.

Earlier this offseason, not only did he claim that he’s the No. 1 quarterback in the SEC heading into the season, he wants the Razorbacks to become the team to beat in the SEC West. It’s on him to turn that claim into a reality.

“Just becoming a better passer, stretching the ball down the field, getting the play-makers the ball, letting them make plays, also just owning the offense, going up to the line of scrimmage, checking out the players,” Jefferson said. “Stuff like that, which is going to help me prepare for the next level.”

If it weren’t for injuries taking him out of some of Arkansas’ most important games during his tenure, Jefferson might have ended up forgoing the rest of his collegiate eligibility, he said. Instead, Jefferson is fine-tuning himself for one last run with the Razorbacks in 2023. The Hogs’ opening performance of 2023 has showcased just that thus far.

Every week will feel like a chance for Jefferson and the Razorbacks to prove their worth thanks to their SEC West schedule. That gives them matchups against LSU, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Alabama and an alternating SEC East matchup against Florida — each time Arkansas takes the field feels like a must-win situation for the Arkansas.

After enjoying two weeks of buy games against Western Carolina this week and Kent State next week to begin the 2023 season, a tough matchup at home against the Big-12’s newest member BYU looms for Week 3 ahead of the SEC opener on the road against LSU the following week.