As talented as he is, K.J. Jefferson could win the Maxwell Award. The Arkansas starting quarterback, however, will not focus on winning any individual award. Jefferson aims to help his team win at least ten games. If he performs as well as he is capable, K.J. has an excellent opportunity to bring home the Heisman Trophy, too. With the brutal schedule the Arkansas Razorbacks face, K.J. Jefferson will deserve to win the Heisman Trophy and Maxwell Award if the Hogs end the season with at least ten victories.
K.J. Jefferson Could Win Maxwell Award If He Stays Healthy
K.J. Jefferson is a massive man: 6’3, 245 pounds. Again, a massive man. When Jefferson runs the football, defensive players suffer considerable punishment. He’s human, though. A violent, physical runner, K.J. relishes employing his imposing frame to bludgeon defenders. Unfortunately, never avoiding contact led to injuries last season, although he never missed significant playing time. In a few games last season, one could see Jefferson in conspicuous pain, limping noticeably. He withstood the pain to continue leading the offense.
As admirable as his toughness is, another season of experiencing such pain is not sustainable. Jefferson must go against his instincts and evade contact when possible. Protecting his body is more vital than always arousing fear in defenders with his brute strength. By avoiding unnecessary contact, K.J. can display his intellectual strength. He’s smart, as evidenced by how he protects the football, finishing last season with only four interceptions (tied for 7th in the nation for least interceptions).
Returning four starting offensive linemen should help Jefferson remain healthy. Coaches across the nation regard Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman as one of the nation’s best (if not the best) offensive line coaches. Although the Razorbacks’ offensive line did a quality job last season, expect it to progress toward elite status in Pittman’s third season as head coach. The Georgia Bulldogs wouldn’t have won last season’s national championship without the offensive line Pittman developed before departing to become the Hogs’ head coach. With an even more challenging schedule than last season, K.J. Jefferson will need his offensive line to shine each week.
K.J. Jefferson’s Brutal Road to Winning the Maxwell Award
Jefferson will have difficulty amassing the numbers to dazzle those responsible for awarding the Maxwell Award, given the Hogs’ daunting schedule. Stetson Bennett, Georgia’s starting quarterback, however, will be able to garner more impressive numbers, considering he will encounter far lesser competition. After opening with Oregon, the Georgia Bulldogs have a relatively easy schedule. To win many games this season, K.J. Jefferson will lean on his great stable of running backs, including Raheim Sanders, named to the 2022 Doak Walker Award Watch List. Jefferson will not receive any credit for the notable rushing yards these running backs will produce; these yards don’t count toward his statistics in any way. K.J. will not complain, though.
If the Arkansas Razorbacks accomplish what Jefferson desires to achieve, winning at least ten games, most Arkansas fans and players will be okay if no player wins an individual award.
All Razorback sports are experiencing great success. Motivated by an excellent 9-4 season, including an Outback Bowl victory over Penn State, the Arkansas Razorbacks have one focus: winning games. The football team will look to keep pace with the recent accomplishments of the other Razorback teams.
With K.J. Jefferson leading the Hogs, Razorback Nation is confident about what’s possible this season.