KJ Jefferson commits to UCF Knights as graduate transfer
Jefferson posted his decision on social media, joining the Knights, who are entering their second season in the Big 12 in 2024 following a 6-7 debut.
UCF, who started the departing John Rhys Plumlee and others at quarterback the past two seasons, courted former Coastal Carolina quarterback Grayson McCall earlier this month. McCall was on the Orlando campus, toured the facilities and attended a Knights men’s basketball game with UCF coach Gus Malzahn before ultimately deciding to transfer to NC State.
The Knights had their share of struggles in the Big 12, finishing 3-6 in league play, but a lot of it was on the defensive side of the ball. UCF scored 407 total points this season and defeated one top-25 opponent, then-No. 15 Oklahoma State, 45-3 in November. UCF was the lone new member of the Big 12 — BYU, Cincinnati and Houston were the others — to qualify for a bowl.
Jefferson had started for the Razorbacks since his sophomore season in 2021, when he threw for 2,676 yards and 21 touchdowns. His next two seasons, he threw for 24 and 19.
At 6-foot-3 and 247 pounds, the Sardis, Mississippi, native was a four-star prospect out of high school in the 2019 class.
Arkansas went 4-8 this season and fired offensive coordinator Dan Enos, while bringing back former coach Bobby Petrino to fill the role left by Enos. A week after that move, Jefferson led the Razorbacks to a 39-36 win at Florida.