QB lands on Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award watch list

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — With Arkansas’ season opener taking place at the end of the week, quarterback K.J. Jefferson was one of 48 selected to the prestigious Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Preseason Watch List last week.

The preseason watch list, semifinalists, finalists and award recipient are selected by the distinguished Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Selection Committee, a group of prominent college football journalists, commentators, announcers and former players. The award annually recognizes the top senior or upperclassman quarterback set to graduate with their class. This year’s watch list was selected based on career player performance and expectations heading into the 2023 college football season.

Jefferson is poised to rewrite a large portion of the Arkansas record book this fall as he heads into his third season as the Hogs’ full-time starter. The Sardis, Miss., native sits inside the career top 10 in school history in completions (436 — seventh), yards (5,816 —seventh), touchdown passes (48 — sixth), 300–yard passing games (five — third), total plays (1,028 — sixth), total yards (7,245 —fifth) and touchdown responsibility (67 — fourth). Jefferson’s name is dotted throughout the school record book for numerous single-season records, including twice for completion percentage in 2021 (.673 — third) and 2022 (.680 — second).

Jefferson, who passed for 2,648 yards and 24 touchdowns with 640 yards and nine rushing scores on the ground in 2022, is the first Arkansas quarterback to earn preseason All-Southeastern Conference accolades since 2012. He was also named to the preseason watch lists for the Manning, Maxwell and Davey O’Brien awards.

The 2023 award winner will be presented the Golden Arm Award trophy by The Johnny Unitas Educational Foundation President, John Unitas, Jr., as well as other notable attendees at the Golden Arm Award banquet and celebration at the Four Seasons Hotel in Baltimore on Dec. 7.

Jefferson and the Razorbacks kick off the season at 3 p.m. Saturday against FCS foe Western Carolina at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, Ark.