FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas redshirt sophomore quarterback KJ Jefferson is clear he wants to play at 235 pounds this season.
To do so, the 6-3 Jefferson will need to shed 12 pounds before the Razorbacks' scheduled Sept. 4 season opener against Rice.
“Conditioning-wise, I think I could be in better shape,” Jefferson said Friday after his team’s first preseason practice. “I am trying to cut down on a little weight that I have gained over the summer.
“I feel like I put on a lot more muscle mass, but I want to cut down on the weight and the body fat percentage....I am 247 right now. I just want to cut down like 10 pounds and get down to 235, 230 — somewhere in there.”
Jefferson was named the starting quarterback in the spring to take over for the departed Feleipe Franks. Jefferson was Franks' backup a year ago.
Jefferson had a career-high 274 passing yards and threw three touchdown passes during a 50-48 loss at Missouri while starting in place of the injured Franks last December.
He completed 20 of 41 passes for 295 yards last season. Jefferson played in five games.
Jefferson has a fan in Arkansas junior wide receiver Treylon Burks, who had 10 catches for 206 yards from Jefferson against Missouri last season.
“Honestly with that, I’m 100% confident in KJ,” Burks said. “That’s my boy. We’re basically like blood. For him to come in in the Missouri game and show us what we could do, that showed a lot to us. I know it showed the defense and the offense that he’s capable of leading this team. I’m 100% confident in him.”
Arkansas safety Jalen Catalon said Jefferson showed a good attitude while playing behind Franks.
"From the start of the year, when Feleipe came in, it was like anybody could have been down and thought, 'Oh, this was my year,” Catalon said. “But he never that attitude.
“He just came in ready to work and was a sponge. He soaked in more information and tried to learn from Feleipe. Then, when it was time, he stepped up and he made plays. He showed that he can lead this team and gave everybody a glimpse of what he can be."
Jefferson, who had 9,582 passing yards, 2,922 rushing yards and 143 total touchdowns in his career at Sardis (Miss.) North Panola High School, is expected to be more of a running threat than Franks.
“There will for sure be a lot more RPO based on that I can move and extend plays with my legs and not just depend on my arm,” Jefferson said.
Jefferson said his offseason was more about refinement.
“This offseason, the main things I have been mainly working on are just the little, small details, getting in the film room and in the weight room, working out with [strength coach Jamil] Walker, shoulder work, mobility and just all the little things," Jefferson said.
He was pleased with the team’s first workout Friday.
“To me, the overall experience was a great day today," Jefferson said. "The offense did pretty well. We can correct a few mistakes that we had, but overall I feel like it was a good collective effort.”
Jefferson lost a receiver when Mike Woods used the transfer portal to go to Oklahoma, but had a new receiver in practice Friday in Florida State transfer Warren Thompson (6-4, 220 pounds).
“As far as Warren, he is coming along well, building his confidence each and every day,” Jefferson said.
"He is new to this whole system and the program. I think Warren will come along pretty well when he gets his confidence up and be a great asset to this team.”