Tag: Ketron Jackson Jr.

Recruiting guru Guiton revamps Hogs’ receiving corps

Arkansas receivers coach Kenny Guiton is proving to be an outstanding recruiter, bringing in talented new faces to fill some voids.

With the departure of Arkansas’ four top receiving targets from a year ago, the Razorbacks went into the offseason with a definite need to fill the void.

To the rescue was receivers coach and emerging recruiting guru Kenny Guiton, who proceeded to land three coveted replacements.

Gone are wideouts Matt Landers (47 catches, 901 yards and 8 TDs), Jadon Haselwood (59, 702, 3), and Ketron Jackson Jr. (16, 277, 3) and tight end Trey Knox (26, 296, 5). Landers and Haselwood opted to turn pro, while Jackson and Knox chose to transfer. The primary back-up Warren Thompson (12, 178, 2) also decided to leave the program.

Guiton proceeded to out-recruit a number of Power 5 programs to bring in a trio of highly touted transfers: Andrew Armstrong (62, 1,020, 13) from Texas A&M-Commerce, Isaac TeSlaa (68, 1,325, 13) from Hillside College and Tyrone Broden (32, 506, 7) from Bowling Green. The three should be an immediate welcome addition for senior quarterback KJ Jefferson and new offensive coordinator Dan Enos’s pro-style offense.

Guiton, a former quarterback at Ohio State, worked his magic last season, bringing in a pair of transfers that quickly blossomed – Landers and Haselwood.

Along with another Guiton recruit, freshman Isaiah Sategna, the reworked receiving corps looks to pose a definite threat to opposing secondaries. The speedy Sategna had two impressive TD catches in last spring’s Red-White Game.

Despite having a group that lacks playing experience in the SEC, Guiton is confident that he has the right mix of talent to support a stellar Razorback passing game this season.

“The further and further you go, the more ease you start to get,” he said after the fifth practice of the fall. “I don’t know if I will ever be fully eased until we win some games. But right now, I’m feeling good. I love the competitive nature in our room. You can tell everything is up for grabs.”

With 20 practices remaining before the season opener against Western Carolina in Little Rock, Guiton will just let everything sort itself out.

“We have plenty of guys competing their butts off, in order to be one of those three starters, but they also know when your time comes to shine, you better be ready for it.”

Arkansas stuns Ole Miss, clinches bowl berth

KJ Jefferson and Rocket Sanders led the Arkansas onslaught in a dismantling of Ole Miss.

Rocket Sanders ran for three touchdowns and KJ Jefferson threw for three as Arkansas shocked Ole Miss on Saturday, 42-27, to clinch bowl eligibility.

The victory provided the Razorbacks with at least a .500 record for the second straight year, making it the first time that’s happened since 2015 and 2016. Arkansas has a final regular-season game left on Friday at Missouri.

Ole Miss was never really in the game on Saturday. After going three-and-out on its first drive, Arkansas scored touchdowns – all three on passes from Jefferson – on its next three.

The Razorbacks punted again on their first drive of the second quarter before Sanders scored touchdowns on three straight series. By that point, Arkansas had opened a 42-6.

Jefferson finished 17 of 22 passing for 168 yards and the three scores. Sanders ran for 232 yards and his three touchdowns. Matt Landers caught two of Jefferson’s touchdown tosses while Ketron Jackson Jr. caught the other.

Ole Miss scored touchdowns on three straight drives in the fourth quarter to make the score respectable.

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It’s almost like everyone forgot about Ketron Jackson Jr.

Arkansas sophomore wideout Ketron Jackson Jr. looks like he may be the Hogs’ No. 1 this year.

Rocket Sanders had his chance quickly. AJ Green’s year was dotted with opportunities. Now it’s Ketron Jackson Jr.’s turn.

Green and Sanders were the No. 2 and No. 3 members of Arkansas’ 2021 recruiting class and established themselves as immediate, in Sanders’ case, regulars and future, in Green’s case, ones. Jackson, the wide receiver from Royse City, Texas, caught four passes and never truly cracked the regular rotation.

That’s almost certainly going to change in 2022.

Jackson has been arguably the brightest spot in the receiving corps during fall camp, the primary player who has stood out among a group coach Sam Pittman called the most improved on the team.

That’s scary news for Arkansas opponents, who are hoping the Razorbacks offense stumbles with the loss of first-round pick Treylon Burks to the NFL and No. 2 receiver Tyson Morris to exhausted eligibility. In fact, only two of the team’s top six pass-catchers last year return in Warren Thompson and tight end Trey Knox.

Jackson caught five passes, one for a score, for 97 yards last year. But coaches raved about his potential in last year’s camp and he showed flashes of it in-game, too.

Now, he’s taken the next step as an all-but-guaranteed starter when the Hogs open the season against Cincinnati on September 3.

Pittman: Hogs will replace Treylon Burks “by committee”

Ketron Jackson Jr., Warren Thompson and Jaden Haselwood have Arkansas set to replace Treylon Burks at wide receiver.

Treylon Burks might have re-written the Arkansas football record books had he stayed for another season in Fayetteville. Instead, he’s off to ply his trade in the NFL.

Replacing his production on offense – 66 receptions for 1,104 yards and 11 touchdowns – is paramount for the Razorbacks. But replacing him with just one player is a proposition few teams could accomplish.

So Arkansas coach Sam Pittman said, during his speaking time at SEC Media Days on Wednesday, the Hogs will do it in bulk.

“Ketron Jackson, I think, is going to have his best year,” Pittman said. “Warren Thompson and Bryce Stephens are ready to go. Those guys will help in addition to Jadon Haselwood and Matt Landers.”

Jackson and Thompson were the only regulars in the rotation last year among the group Pittman mentioned. Jackson had just five catches for 97 yards but his athleticism showed on a regular basis and he could be future No. 1. Thompson had 19 grabs for 304 yards and two touchdowns, making him Arkansas’ leading returner out wide.

Haselwood is largely expected to be the leading receiver. The Oklahoma transfer had 39 grabs for 399 yards and led the Sooners with six scores last year.

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247 Sports names Arkansas wideout as one of college football’s Rising Stars

Arkansas wide receiver Jadon Haselwood may be the wideout at the top of the depth chart but

Arkansas sophomore [autotag]Ketron Jackson Jr.[/autotag] showed flashes of excellence in his first year in the Razorbacks program. Now, he’s looking to break out.

Jackson was named one of college football’s Rising Stars by 247Sports last week. The 6-foot-2, 209-pounder from Texas is poised to take a leap in his second year after catching five passes for 97 yards and a touchdown last year.

“With WR1 [autotag]Treylon Burks[/autotag] likely going in the first round of the upcoming NFL Draft, Arkansas needs a player like Jackson to step up and lead the pass-catching room and he has the ability to do just that,” wrote the article’s author Brad Crawford.

Oklahoma transfer [autotag]Jadon Haselwood[/autotag] is likely to be the No. 1 wide receiver when fall arrives. He led the Sooners in receptions and receiving touchdowns last year. But Jackson should be the No. 2. He ran much of the spring with the first-team.

“A guy I like a lot is Ketron Jackson,” Arkansas coach [autotag]Sam Pittman[/autotag] said. “I like him a lot, but sometimes you’ll go through a practice and we’re not getting him the ball. At times, there’s not a lot of production, but I think he’s a really good player.”

Arkansas football freshman power rankings: No surprise at No. 1

Arkansas hasn’t played many freshmen in 2021, but these five have had an impact.

Freshmen in the SEC often find college football tough sledding. Rare is the time a first-year player provides a massive spark to his program. Rare, but not unheard of.

Arkansas has a number of first-year players who have affected the season in a positive way.

Coach Sam Pittman and his position coaches haven’t played many of their freshmen. Arkansas is, after all, a team still building depth and with several super-seniors choosing to return after the 2020 was largely a wash, the Razorbacks a bit more upperclassmen depth than they would have in a normal year.

Still, a few of the young bucks have affected the season in a positive way. Here is a midseason-ish look at the five who have done the most.

Razorbacks roll over Arkansas-Pine Bluff ahead of bye week

Arkansas had no trouble with FCS Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday.

Arkansas’ three-game losing streak came to an end Saturday inside War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock as the Razorbacks handled Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 45-3.

Quarterback KJ Jefferson was finished at halftime after throwing four touchdowns and leading the Hogs to all 45 of its points at the break.

Wide receiver Treylon Burks had his first career three-touchdown day as he caught two of those scores from Jefferson and ran for another, a 49-yarder, on a jet sweep. Tight end Blake Kern caught his first touchdown of the year and freshman wide receiver Ketron Jackson Jr. also had his first career score, both from Jefferson.

On the ground, nine different Razorbacks had carries. Dominique Johnson led with 91 yards on six rushes.

Nathan Parodi scored the first Arkansas punt return touchdown since the 2011 season when he went 80 yards to the end zone in the second quarter.

The Arkansas defense had a couple of lapses early, but settled to allow just XX yards to the Golden Lions. The Razorbacks came away with two interceptions, as well, by Myles Slusher and Malik Chavis.

The win was expected and allowed the Hogs to regain some confidence after consecutive losses to Georgia, Ole Miss and Auburn, sending Arkansas from the top 10 to outside the top 25. The Razorbacks are off on Halloween weekend for a bye but return the following week back in Fayetteville against Mississippi State.

WATCH: Ketron Jackson Jr. catches his first career TD grab

Ketron Jackson Jr., a former 4-star recruit, has his first career score against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

The most highly touted freshman on the Arkansas roster before the season began was wide receiver Ketron Jackson Jr.

The 4-star recruit was considered to be in the mix opposite Treylon Burks for Arkansas’ No. 2 wide receiver job. And while Jackson had playing time this year, it wasn’t until Saturday he notched his first score.

Jackson caught a 29-yard pass from KJ Jefferson over the middle to put the Razorbacks ahead of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 38-0 with 2:59 left in the second quarter.

Jackson is the fourth different Arkansas player to score against the Golden Lions. Tight end Blake Kern caught a touchdown pass for the first score, wide receiver Treylon Burks ran for a touchdown then caught a touchdown for the second and third, punt returner Nathan Parodi went 80 yards to the house for the fourth.

Jackson now has three catches for 46 yards this year, though that number could grow in the second half as the Razorbacks likely play more reserves after halftime.