OUTBACK BOWL: PENN STATE VS ARKANSAS

January 1, 2022

KJ Jefferson

Raymond James Stadium

Arkansas Razorbacks

Press Conference

Arkansas 24, Penn State 10

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. What does it feel like to cap the season with a win?

KJ JEFFERSON: I'm just embracing it all. The guys, I mean, my teammates who just put in the work, fall camp, spring ball, believing in the coaching staff, believing in each other, the bond we share. We're just embracing it all. We can reflect back on it and tell our kids or other family members we did this, accomplished this during this season.

Q. In the second half, did you just take over and run?

KJ JEFFERSON: I mean, like coach said, he came in, just told us like, Hey, we only down three. At that point the leaders took over. Our leaders, captains, seniors, everybody being more vocal. We knew we had to play our brand of football. The first half, it wasn't our brand of football.

Coming out we took it as a challenge, put our best foot forward and played Arkansas brand football.

Q. It looked like you took the game on your shoulders.

KJ JEFFERSON: It was. I mean, coach decided he was like at some point you got to take over the game, put the game in your hands. We got to put our best foot forward, score points, win the game. That's what it was.

Q. What did you think of Malik's performance?

KJ JEFFERSON: He does it every day in practice, week in, week out. To have a guy like that to back me up... I go out, I have a lot of confidence in him. The team also has a lot of confidence with him as well.

I'm extremely proud of Malik. You want me to go in? You got it, brother. You take over.

Just having a guy like this, back me up like this, extremely proud of him.

Q. On the defense holding Penn State to 10 points.

KJ JEFFERSON: Extremely proud of those guys, the way they swarming the ball, gang tackle each and every tackle. Having guys like that, knowing they had our back, we pick it up second half and had their backs, able to be a team effort.

Q. On winning the Outback Bowl MVP.

KJ JEFFERSON: I mean, dream come true. This whole week we've been talking, going back and forth. He said I had a higher chance of winning this because he opted out, being MVP. Having a coach like this has that confidence in me, instilling the confidence and leadership in me. Also my teammates, those guys believing in me.

It's a dream come true.

Q. On the play of the wide receivers group.

KJ JEFFERSON: They did extremely awesome. I couldn't thank them no more. For those guys to come in, embrace the moment, take advantage of their opportunities, especially the young guys that got in embracing the moment, just extremely proud of them.

Q. This was not the national championship game, but it was your national championship game.

KJ JEFFERSON: It was. I mean, we been through a lot over the past years, going through a little rough patch. Now that we are finally on the rise, on the come-up. Everybody on the team took this is like a national championship, big stage, Outback Bowl, Tampa, Florida. We had to come out and (indiscernible) that Arkansas showed.

Q. Did you know this was something you might have to do more, run the ball?

KJ JEFFERSON: I did. Just the way we practiced, plays that we was running. I knew I was going to be running more the ball, being smart with the ball, making great plays on the outside with the guys flipping the ball out or just running the ball.

Q. Do you feel like you can go into next season being one of the top in the SEC?

KJ JEFFERSON: I mean, of course. I feel like heading into the next season, we always have an advantage with the young guys coming in, being able to play out there in the game, giving those guys an opportunity, they're taking an opportunity. We're ahead of some programs right now. We're just going to move forward.

Q. What is going through your mind winning the Outback Bowl MVP?

KJ JEFFERSON: Surreal. Me being able to just way ahead of time say I won the MVP trophy, and actually win. Teammates I got, anybody could have won that trophy. They ended up giving it to me.

Turning around, showing my family that supporting me, drove all the way down here instead of flying. Shows a lot about my support system, the fans. They've been with me every step, having a crowd like that supporting the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Q. On being able to get through 13 games without missing a contest.

KJ JEFFERSON: I want to give credit to the strength staff. Week in and week out they're hard on me, make sure I'm doing reps, things like that. Also the training schedule, taking care of me, my body, make sure I'm taking care of my body. Even if him 100% healthy, they want me to come in and get treatment because of the physical game we play on Saturday, the SEC also.