Former Arkansas and current UCF quarterback KJ Jefferson was arrested Tuesday on a reckless charge related to an incident in May 2023. The incident happened before Jefferson transferred to UCF.
Jefferson turned himself in at 2:13 p.m. for the misdemeanor charge and was later released with a sentence of community service hours. He had originally been arrested on May 18th, 2023, for going 100 miles per hour down an Arkansas interstate, however he never officially turned himself in until Tuesday.
UCF Coach Gus Malzhan Knew About the Incident
UCF Head Coach Gus Malzhan doesn’t seem concerned about the situation. He released the following statement regarding his new quarterback:
“I have been fully aware of this situation that took place in May 2023 prior to his arrival at UCF…Since KJ [Jefferson] has been here, he’s been a great leader and an exemplary member of our program.”
Although Jefferson will have to serve some community service hours, the reckless driving charges are unlikely to lead to any other kind of suspension or consequence from the UCF team or NCAA (although getting a car NIL deal may be less likely now).
Social Media Notices an Odd Detail
It is no secret that just about any sports team likes to adjust stats and measurements whenever possible to give off a favorable outcome. For example, college basketball players are often given an extra inch or two to their height, linemen in football often are given more weight, and players always have a faster ’40-time’.
When KJ Jefferson left Arkansas, a big point of emphasis was that he had lost a lot of weight and only weighed 247 pounds, which for a QB is a lot but not an unrealistic amount. Fans and critics, however, were quick to point out that according to the police report, Jefferson now weighs 266 pounds, which, for reference, would be 25 pounds heavier than Ben Roethlisberger, often viewed as the biggest NFL QB when he played.
KJ Jefferson is 6’3 266 lmaoooo bro a edge rusher https://t.co/y2Al9y0E3Q
— 👁 (@DynastyOsu) April 17, 2024
KJ Jefferson is Looking For an NFL Shot
Out of high school, KJ Jefferson was a highly touted recruit with a bright future in the NFL. While Jefferson has played well, setting multiple Arkansas records, without much support from the offensive line and receivers, the game often was put on Jefferson’s shoulders. While still a great player, he wasn’t able to carry the whole team on his back (although he almost did a few times).
Following the 2023 season, which saw Arkansas finish 4-8, Jefferson entered his name in the transfer portal and was quickly picked up by UCF. The Knight’s fast-paced playstyle and balanced attack could serve Jefferson well and set him up to be drafted next year in a draft that appears to be much less talented with QB prospects.
UCF will kick off their season on Thursday, August 29th, against New Hampshire.