FAYETTEVILLE — One week after gashing Texas for a season-high rushing total, the Arkansas offense shifted its plan of attack to the air Saturday.
Quarterback KJ Jefferson passed for 366 yards in three quarters before ceding mop-up duty to redshirt freshman Malik Hornsby during the Razorbacks' 45-10 win over Georgia Southern. Jefferson passed for three touchdowns, including a 60-yard pass to Warren Thompson and a 91-yarder to Treylon Burks on consecutive throws in the third quarter.
Jefferson also completed a 47-yard pass to Tyson Morris on the Razorbacks' first snap — their third long connection in three games. Morris had key catches in Arkansas' wins over Rice and Texas.
On Saturday, Morris stretched the Eagles’ defense as he caught both of his targets for 61 yards and a 14-yard touchdown.
“It seems like (Morris) is making at least one big play all of the time,” Arkansas coach Sam Pittman said. “It just goes to show, in my opinion, that transferring is not always the answer if you are not playing – maybe play better. He is a great example of that and is helping us win ball games.”
Jefferson echoed compliments of the senior receiver in his postgame press conference.
“His confidence is just through the roof,” Jefferson said. “I can trust him. He can trust me to put the ball in the right spot and he will go up and make a play.”
Morris and Thompson have helped erase the memory of Mike Woods, the Razorbacks' No. 2 receiver a season ago who transferred to Oklahoma following spring practice this year. In his final season with the Razorbacks, Woods finished third in the SEC in yards per catch.
After losing Woods, Pittman dipped into the transfer portal and picked up the redshirt junior Thompson, who played under offensive coordinator Kendal Briles at Florida State in 2019. At FSU, Thompson played in 16 games and caught 11 passes for 195 yards.
Thompson has four catches for 81 yards this season. Morris has six catches for 148 yards and his touchdown in the second quarter Saturday was his second score this year.
As the season progresses, SEC defenses can expect to see more of Thompson and Morris as they attempt to negate Burks’ offensive impact.
“Honestly, I don’t care if I get the ball at all,” Burks said. “I just want to win. As long as we get the win, I am perfectly fine and feel like I’ve had 1,000 yards without even touching the ball.”