[mm-video type=playlist id=01fc3h383th881vsf1 player_id=none image=https://razorbackswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]
The Arkansas game against Ole Miss gave me a really weird feeling after it ended.
I was bummed that the Hogs lost, but I wasn’t mad about it. I was questioning certain calls, but I wasn’t frustrated by them.
I just felt like it was a great game between two great offenses that were evenly firing on all cylinders and one team happened to come out on top. Ole Miss unfortunately was that team and the Hogs now drop to 4-2 (1-2) on the season.
But I still feel really great about the rest of the season. I feel like Arkansas can still go 5-1 in their final six games and finish the year with a very respectable 9-3 record. They can go to a solid bowl game and have a chance to finish with 10 wins for the first time since 2011.
The reason I feel that way is because of what I saw from KJ Jefferson on Saturday in Oxford. That may have been one of the best performances from a Razorback QB I have seen this century. It didn’t result in a win for Jefferson, but everyone could tell that he wanted to win that game in his home state badly.
Arkansas has won its big games this year based on great defense and running the ball effectively. Jefferson did a good job of leading the offense and being good enough to win, but we never had a chance to see his talents showcased fully. Nothing wrong with that either. When you’re winning games it’s hard to complain about anything.
But when the defense was getting burned against the Rebels and the team needed Jefferson to deliver on the scoreboard, he didn’t disappoint. He accounted for six touchdowns (three rushing, three passing) and over 400 yards of offense. He also made the plays when the Hogs needed it the most, notably on the final play where he tossed a touchdown pass with one second left to Warren Thompson that set up the two-point try.
Even though the Hogs didn’t beat the Rebels, they showed me that they can still be in a position to win games when the defense is struggling. They can put up crazy offensive numbers and score a lot of points if they have to. Sometimes there will be games that call for that type of play and I fully believe the Hogs will be ready for it no matter what.
KJ Jefferson is the reason for that. He’s getting better each game and has continues to gain the respect of his coaches and teammates. The comparisons of Cam Newton are starting to really look legitimate as the season goes on.
Matt Corral performed great for Ole Miss on Saturday. But if I had a choice between Corral or Jefferson? Give me KJ every day and twice on Sunday.