Arkansas football: 3 takeaways from 2023 spring game

1. Don’t put too much stock in KJ Jefferson’s inaccurate day

Returning KJ Jefferson was a big win for Sam Pittman. He’s a two-year starter at quarterback who brings loads of experience and success, passing for over 5,300 yards and 45 touchdowns in 2021 and 2022 combined while rushing for over 1,300 yards and 15 touchdowns. That kind of quarterback doesn’t just grow on trees.

But everyone kind of wanted Jefferson to take another step in the right direction and prove that he could lead Arkansas to SEC title contention with a 3,000-plus yard season while completing around 67-68 percent of his passes again.

If we’re basing that expectation strictly off the spring game, I would say that is not going to happen. But luckily this is just a spring game.

Jefferson had 131 yards and two touchdowns, but he completed just 9-of-18 passes. Is this indicative of the defensive backfield improving or the line getting after him in the pass rush? Maybe, but he needs to be better.

I’m still not putting too much stock into this performance as he was still the best quarterback on the field.