When KJ Jefferson signed with Arkansas’ 2019 recruiting class, the Mississippi native was one of the top quarterback prospects in the country. A 4-star recruit, he drew comparisons to former Auburn quarterback Cam Newton.
However, Jefferson didn’t immediately find himself high on the depth chart when he arrived at the Fayetteville campus. He was battling for playing time behind a pair of transfers Nick Starkel (Texas A&M) and Ben Hicks (SMU).
Arkansas signed another transfer, former Florida quarterback Feleipe Franks, the following season, and Jefferson once again found himself quietly playing the waiting game.
A three-year starter in his own right, Franks would end up playing the role of veteran quarterback to a tee, guiding Jefferson.
“It’s always challenging for a freshman when you come in and think you’re going to be the guy and then a transfer comes in,” said Jefferson. “When it happened to me, I took it as a challenge and learned from it.
“I tried to soak up all the knowledge I could from Feleipe Franks. Every day that we stepped on the field, we competed. We made every drill a competition, raising the competition level.”
Jefferson would finally get his chance to earn the starting job in 2021, and during the next three seasons he would set program records for completions, passing yards and touchdown passes before transferring to UCF in December.
Since the NCAA launched the transfer portal in 2018, teams have typically chosen to sign an experienced quarterback rather than develop younger players.
Three of last season’s four Heisman Trophy finalists were transfers, including LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels, who won the award. USC quarterback Caleb Williams, who won it in 2022, also was a transfer from Oklahoma.
UCF has signed 15 freshman quarterbacks since 2013, including Riley Trujillo and EJ Colson, a pair of true freshmen on this year’s roster. Eleven players went on to transfer, either finishing their careers elsewhere or retiring from football.
Mikey Keene was the last true freshman to start a game when he took over for an injured Dillon Gabriel in 2021. Keene, who left for Fresno State in ’23, started the final 11 games and redshirted after the arrival of transfer John Rhys Plumlee in ’22.
Since coach Gus Malzahn arrived in ’21, the Knights have added nine quarterbacks through the transfer market, including starters Jefferson (’24), Plumlee (’22-23) and Timmy McClain (’23).
“Quarterback rooms are changing drastically all over the country from year to year,” said UCF quarterbacks coach Darin Hinshaw. “Where it used to be one guy coming in, now it’s one to two to sometimes three guys coming in.”
Plumlee’s graduation, coupled with the transfers of Gunnar Smith, Xavier Williams and McClain, necessitated the signing of former Miami transfer Jacurri Brown following spring camp.
“It’s harder to have a quality backup in college football today than ever before,” said Malzahn. “But the guys in high school who can be patient will have a real chance to establish themselves. It’s a different time for a quarterback right now.”
Hinshaw also knows all too well what it’s like to arrive on the UCF campus as a highly rated quarterback only to find yourself battling for precious playing time.
“When I got here, I had five quarterbacks ahead of me and thought I was going to walk in here and be the guy, to be the man and star quarterback,” he said. “That’s how I was recruited, but I realized this would take much work. I redshirted, worked my tail off, and finally got my redshirt freshman year opportunity.”
Hinshaw finished his career (1993-94) ranked third all-time in completions and passing yards, tied for second in passing touchdowns.
“I tell them all you control your destiny,” Hinshaw said of his message to the younger quarterbacks on the roster.
Colson is the highest-ranked quarterback the Knights have signed since ’08, while Trujillo is third. Redshirt freshman Dylan Rizk, who spent last season in the system, is fifth.
“We’re going to handle every kid differently based on the learning curve of how they learn the offense and how mature they are as freshmen,” said Hinshaw. “I tell them, ‘Listen guys, you have to be a quarterback off the field as well and you’ve got to study in the film room.’”
Matt Murschel can be reached at mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com
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