Hogs will rely on Jefferson running against Penn State, meaning Hornsby needs to be ready

The best thing for teams who make a bowl game isn’t the game itself. Unless, of course, that game is the College Football Playoff.

But most coaches across the country say the biggest benefit is the extra practices allowed for those teams who are postseason-eligible.

At Arkansas, which hasn’t made a bowl since 2016, it’s a bit of both, even if it leans more toward the latter, still. So Razorbacks coach Sam Pittman is using the extra time to prep for the future.

Quarterback KJ Jefferson is the unquestioned starter entering 2022. He threw for 2,578 yards and 21 touchdowns and ran for another 554 yards with five scores. Just a junior next year, Jefferson will enter play as one of the SEC’s top signal-callers.

Back-up quarterbacks are always necessary, though, even with someone like Jefferson who is all but guaranteed to take the best and most important snaps. A team is always just one injury away from losing its ace.

Freshman Malik Hornsby, Ole Miss transfer Kade Renfro and freshman Lucas Coley have all received extra work during the month of December as Arkansas prepares for its Outback Bowl game against Penn State on January 1. With wide receiver Treylon Burks off to prepare for the NFL draft, the Razorbacks will likely rely even more heavily on Jefferson’s legs, which could put his body in danger.

Jefferson’s best running game came against Ole Miss in a one-point loss. He went for 85 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries. The next week, against Auburn, he ran another 18 times for 66 yards. Pittman thinks it took its toll.

“Obviously we went into Ole Miss thinking that (Jefferson running the ball) would be the way for us to win the game,” Pittman said. “I’m not for sure with us using him that much that it didn’t affect him a little bit against Auburn being beat up.”

That puts Hornsby, the No. 2 all season, and the others into the wings. The extra practices can only help.