Arkansas quarterback KJ Jackson (7), Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, during the first quarter against Missouri at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville. Visit nwaonline.com/photo for today's photo gallery..(NWA Democrat-Gazette/Hank Layton)
FAYETTEVILLE -- KJ Jackson led the University of Arkansas football team's only touchdown drive in a 31-17 loss to Missouri on Saturday. There's a chance it was his last with the Razorbacks.
Jackson became the first freshman quarterback to start for the Razorbacks since KJ Jefferson in a 50-48 loss at Missouri on Dec. 5, 2020. The redshirt freshman split drives Saturday with redshirt senior quarterback Taylen Green, a two-year starter who finished the game.
"Future is bright," Green told Jackson as they hugged on the field afterward.
Less than 24 hours after capping a 2-10 season, Arkansas announced the hiring of Ryan Silverfield, who coached Memphis in its 2019 bowl game then the following six full seasons, as head coach on Sunday afternoon.
As the torch passed to Silverfield, it may have as well to Jackson.
The question is whether Jackson stays at Arkansas rather than transferring, or if he's welcomed by Silverfield and his staff.
"I think it looks great," interim Coach Bobby Petrino said of Jackson's future. "Like I said, he's a really intelligent kid. He knows the game of football. He's got great leadership skills, particularly when it's in the heat of the battle. Between last week down in Texas and tonight, he really can lead a team and he's tough and has the skills to make all the throws you need to make."
Former Arkansas coach Sam Pittman, who was fired on Sept. 28, was similarly high on Jackson.
"I believe he's the quarterback for us in the future, I do," Pittman said at SEC media days in July. "We're not going out and looking for somebody else when Taylen Green leaves. We got him; he's on campus. We believe in him."
The 6-4, 225-pounder completed 33 of 54 (61.1%) passes in his second season for 441 yards and 3 touchdowns with no interceptions. The left-hander Jackson, a former 4-star prospect from Montgomery, Ala., also rushed on 11 plays for 52 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Jackson showed off his legs with a 12-yard scramble for a touchdown during a 52-37 loss at Texas on Nov. 22. He later passed for an 8-yard touchdown and finished with 223 total yards.
Following the first authentic taste of action in his career, Jackson completed 11 of 17 passes for 126 yards and 1 touchdown against Missouri. He threw an accurate 16-yard touchdown pass on a third-and-long situation despite an approaching blitzer. Jackson took one sack to Green's three.
"KJ is young and energetic," offensive lineman Fernando Carmona said. "He has a lot of life that he's going to give to football. I'm excited to see both their journeys, because they're great quarterbacks. I'm blessed to be able to protect for them."
Sixth-year Memphis quarterback Brendon Lewis is set to exhaust his eligibility after his Tigers (8-4, 4-4 American) play their impending bowl game. Arkansas fans are familiar with the three-school transfer; Lewis accounted for three touchdowns in a 32-31 win against the Razorbacks on Sept. 20.
Lewis rushed 16 times for 103 yards against Arkansas. But no run was more haunting that afternoon than the one attempt by backup quarterback Arrington Maiden. The 6-2, 204-pound redshirt freshman barged his way for an 11-yard gain on third-and-8, which iced the upset for the Tigers.
Maiden hasn't been used nearly as much as Jackson has this season. He's completed 5 of 8 passes for 59 yards and rushed 10 times for 68 yards and 1 touchdown. He subbed in against Arkansas because Lewis' helmet popped off during the previous play. Silverfield said he chose not to burn a timeout to get Lewis back in and the play call was designed for the running back.
"Next thing I know, Arrington keeps the ball and those legs keep turning," Silverfield said Sept. 20. "It was one of those, like, 'Oh! Oh!' ... You think Arrington Maiden thought he was going to go in with 22 seconds left in the football game to go win this thing? Not at all. But his preparation, his mindset as well, was phenomenal."
Former offensive coordinator Dan Enos recruited Jackson to Arkansas -- not Petrino, who held the role from the start of the 2024 season until his elevation to interim coach. Jackson didn't waver through the change, but it's unclear whether that would be enough to follow Petrino to a new coordinator gig as a package deal.
On Nov. 24, Petrino said he hadn't considered his interest in staying as Arkansas' offensive coordinator under the next head coach.
Maiden's next move may rely on the future of fourth-year Memphis offensive coordinator Tim Cramsey, a possible candidate to replace Silverfield.
Memphis freshman quarterback AJ Hill also subbed in for Lewis on Oct. 18 and completed 13 of 25 passes for 175 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception. Maiden has appeared in five more games than Hill, ESPN's No. 7 pocket passer in the 2025 class.
Matt Byrne is the Bob Holt Razorback Reporter, named in honor of the longtime reporter who covered University of Arkansas sports. This position is funded by the ADG Community Journalism Project.
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