With fans, the most popular player on any football team is the backup quarterback, but only if there is an obvious No. 2.
The starter at Arkansas for this season – clearly KJ Jefferson – will be often critiqued, sometimes to the point of asking for the No. 2 man to be inserted.
There is good news for the Razorbacks after the second scrimmage of August camp on Saturday. It’s obvious there is a No. 2 quarterback after a dazzling performance by redshirt freshman Malik Hornsby.
Head coach Sam Pittman is now comfortable in stating that Jefferson is the clear No. 1 and that Hornsby is far and away ahead of everyone else as the No. 2 man.
Get ready to hear fans clamor to see more of Hornsby, the 6-2, 180-pound speedster from Missouri City, Texas. It’s just the nature of the position.
Interestingly, I got a text from a former player after the scrimmage ended raving about Hornsby. He wondered if Hornsby might be better than Jefferson.
That’s really the kind of thing I hoped to get. I also understand why Hornsby might outshine Jefferson given the circumstances. Jefferson was kept under wraps and given a limited number of repetitions.
Pittman said Jefferson was solid in all aspects, including reads that probably no one on the sideline would understand.
“You are looking at a 265-pounder right across from you,” Pittman said of the challenge for the quarterback in the Kendal Briles offense. “Do you keep it, do you hand it off or do you throw? You base that on what that guy does.”
The reads might not have been great from Jefferson (and the rest of the QBs) in last week’s scrimmage. Jefferson nailed them this time. Basically, Jefferson ran the offense the way it’s designed.
However, what Hornsby did as he worked with the No. 2 offense against the No. 2 defense was deliver big plays. He had long runs and long completions. He had touchdown runs of 80 and 8 yards and completed touchdown passes of 45 yards to John David White and 15 yards to Kendall Catalon.
What Jefferson did best was read the defense and hand it to Raheim “Rocket” Sanders, the true freshman who has emerged as the No. 2 running back behind Trelon Smith. Sanders took most of the snaps with the ones with Smith held out with a minor turf toe injury.
The speed of Hornsby and Sanders impressed everyone on Saturday. It’s an indication that Pittman’s second team has potential to surprise the forecasts of a sixth-place finish in the SEC West.
Pittman wouldn’t make any predictions when asked Saturday, just that he “likes" the way his team works. The physicality and pad level have improved, according to some I trust who have watched several practices.
“They are getting coached hard and firm,” one old timer told me yesterday. “These coaches get after them. I like it.”
The thing I wanted to know was whether or not Hornsby had progressed enough to lead the team if something happened to Jefferson. When you run an offense featuring lots of quarterback runs, the backup is going to be needed. It was the No. 1 thing I had looked for last spring in three scrimmages.
The reports I’m hearing all feature improved play from Hornsby. It’s my belief that he’ll be needed at some point. No one makes it through the SEC with one quarterback.
“Malik had a good day running the football today,” Pittman said. “He threw a nice one to JD. He made some of the bigger plays we had today.
“Malik had a long run for a touchdown and a long pass for a score. KJ didn’t have a bad day, either.
“We did a lot better job with our reads today, KJ included.”
Later when Hornsby’s improvement was noted, Pittman added, “He can run and roll out and throw. He can throw on the run. He has to get better in the pocket, but no one is close to him at No. 2 (quarterback).”
There are certain plays that feature Hornsby that might not be called with Jefferson in the game.
“I don’t know if we’d run the same exact offense when (Hornsby) is in the game,” Pittman said.
Most understand that just by looking at the roster. Jefferson is 6-6 and somewhere around 245 pounds. Hornsby might weigh more than his 180 roster listing, but not by much.
Jefferson can run and can scramble and is anything but slow. But when Hornsby escapes the pocket, he’s got a gear that reminds of Quinn Grovey. Interestingly, Hornsby sports the same No. 4 that Grovey wore. It’s pure electricity when Hornsby cuts.
Defensive end Zach Williams and offensive tackle Myron Cunningham were the only players to speak to the media after Saturday’s scrimmage. Both gave hints of what Hornsby can do.
“You better be outside of Hornsby,” Williams said. “If not, he’s going to out run you. He’s better at his reads and the mesh with the running back. It’s harder to play him.”
Cunningham said simply, “When he takes off, it’s a show. He made some great runs today.”
That’s the kind of stuff that sparks a quarterback controversy among fans. There should not be one right now with the Razorbacks, but the first time Jefferson sputters this fall there are sure to be some who call for Hornsby.
I don’t suggest that Pittman might enter the season playing two quarterbacks, but it’s a good thing that he now has two who can play.