If Jefferson Returns, He Has to Be Forced to Fight for Starting Job

Each quarterback should get equal chance over next nine months to prove he's the right man to lead Arkansas Razorbacks regardless of NIL, relationship with coaches, experience

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – It's now Day 3 of the transfer portal, and despite the unexpected exuberance of an Auburn fan base on social media anticipating a shot to bring him to East Alabama, KJ Jefferson is still a quarterback at Arkansas. That doesn't mean he won't eventually go in, but right now it must be presumed he will be back in Fayetteville this fall.

That being said, regardless of whether Jefferson returns, the next nine months have to be a true quarterback competition. Arkansas cannot afford to get this wrong for any reason, so the job has to be truly open.

That means all spring long, Jefferson, Jacolby Criswell, Malachi Singleton, and TJ Jackson (if he arrives early), have to get equal reps with the 1's, 2's and 3's, and it has to be that way all spring camp. There can't be favorites going in. So often you see guys who are better not start because they don't look as good throwing to the back-ups, or they start even with the No. 1 QB, but don't develop to be better than the other guy because they don't get to work with the top guys.

It doesn't matter who's gotten playing time. It doesn't matter who's got the better NIL deal or who has logged the most quality time with head coach Sam Pittman. It has to be about who's putting Razorbacks in the end zone during real in-game situations. Simply running plays without a true game element can't count. That has to be seen as practice and nothing else. 

There are plenty of quarterbacks who can light it up practicing singular plays who don't perform as well in true game situations. There are also players who are true gamers who don't do as well in practice because that extra dose of adrenaline isn't there to add strength and focus who absolutely dominate when things are real. This team can't afford to fall victim to that.

Everything has to be evaluated. Grasp of the new offense. Helping the offensive line identify key defenders. Working through progressions. Ability to recognize pressure and adjust both before and after it arrives. Willingness to carry through and execute fakes at a high level every time. Whether there's an "it" factor. It's all got to be graded.

Equal reps have to run all the way through spring. No quarterbacks can be shut out of opportunities to grow if the true best option is to be found. When spring is over, a ranking of where things stand needs to be put out, but it still won't be time to actually name a starter, and whoever is on top can't be starter in the minds of the coaches. He's simply the guy in the lead heading into summer.

Pittman has to tell them, "Guys, right now "A" is No. 1 and "B" is No. 2. But what you need to understand is, while I love each of you, I love winning more. If "C" or "D" works hard all summer and comes back the first week of camp and shows he's gotten better than "A," then he's going to be our starting quarterback. "B," if you want the job, you better work hard to hold these other guys off and beat everyone out because it's your job to take. "A," if you want to be our starting quarterback next fall, you better come back a heck of a lot better than you are because these other guys are gunning for you, and if you don't work your tail off all summer long getting this system down and becoming a dominant SEC quarterback, you're gonna be over there with me on the sideline watching someone else win games you should have been winning."

Pittman has to truly mean that, and the players have to truly know it. When the first week or two of fall camp opens, the job has to be as open as it was during the spring. Everyone has to get their equal reps with the 1's, 2's and 3's, so, when the time comes to name a starter and move forward, Arkansas truly has the best man for the job,.

There can't be room for talk of NIL money or favoritism. Everyone in that locker room needs to know each quarterback got a fair shot. The man leading the Razorbacks on the field has to have their full respect because he went through the gauntlet for nine months and proved he's the best man to lead the team on Saturdays. 

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