Why Sonny Dykes compared UCF’s KJ Jefferson to Cam Newton
The Horned Frogs are expecting to have their hands full Saturday when they start Big 12 play against UCF.
It’s the first meeting between the two programs that have historically punched above their weight classes and had to earn their way into a Power Four conference. Now the two are vying for position in what should be a competitive Big 12 race.
Among the many challenges the Knights will present to TCU on Saturday night at Amon G. Carter Stadium, none is bigger than UCF’s formidable rushing attack spearheaded by Arkansas transfer quarterback K.J. Jefferson and head coach Gus Malzahn.
The former Auburn head coach has developed a reputation for how relentless his teams run the ball and this version of UCF is no different. Like his Auburn teams of the past, Malzahn has a true dual-threat to lead his offense and TCU coach Sonny Dykes even compared Jefferson to the greatest quarterback Malzahn has ever coached.
“When he went to Auburn and had Cam Newton, it probably ushered in the era of the dual-threat quarterback,” Dykes said Tuesday. “When you look at K.J. Jefferson, physically that’s who he reminds you of, it’s Cam Newton. He’s 235 pounds, maybe more, he’s big, strong and he’s powerful. He does a nice job executing their offense and can be a big threat running the ball.”
Jefferson is actually listed at 247 pounds and it will be a daunting task to get him on the ground in space. That’s not just because of his size, but also his experience.
Jefferson has more than 40 starts in the SEC and he’s matched up against some of the best defenses in the country. It’s not a stretch to think Jefferson could put up big numbers in the Big 12.
The Knights have done a good job of keeping Jefferson fresh in the first two games as he’s attempted just 29 passes and has only 20 carries so far. That’s roughly 25 touches per game, but that number should increase drastically on Saturday. With the threat of Jefferson as a runner, UCF has the No. 1 rushing attack in the country, averaging over 400 yards on the ground per game.
TCU is only allowing 90 per game, so something will have to give and that’s one of the reasons the Horned Frogs’ defense is so eager for Saturday’s game. It’s the first real opportunity for the defense to test how much better they’ve actually gotten under Andy Avalos.
“They’ve got a big o-line, a veteran running back, a veteran quarterback,” TCU defensive lineman Nana Osafo-Mensah said. “So it’s one of those games that can get really gritty and that’s one of the games I get excited about. It’s not about all the flashy stuff, it’s about who’s going to put the ball down and dominate the line of scrimmage.”
While UCF prides itself on physicality, the Knights won’t just turn around and hand the ball off. What made Malzahn’s offense so unique in the early 2010s is how he combined modern spread concepts with the triple option.
The Knights won’t just attack the TCU defense up the middle, they’ll try to systematically find weaknesses to exploit all over the unit if TCU isn’t prepared.
“They do such a good job of getting the ball on the perimeter,” Dykes said. “They’re going to run speed sweeps to get the ball started out there. That’s the first thing, you’ve got to be able to get the guys on the ground. When you have a 250-pound quarterback that can run up inside, there’s a lot of different plays you can run where you fake the ball on the perimeter and then pull guys around.
“The quarterback run game is tough, because you have an extra blocker as opposed to handing it off to a running back. Those situations are tough on defenses and that’s why having a running quarterback is so valuable.”
When it’s not Jefferson running the ball, the Knights will rely heavily on star running back R.J. Harvey, arguably the most underrated running back in the country. Harvey is averaging nearly nine yards per carry and already has six touchdowns on the season.
There’s hope that facing mobile quarterbacks like Ashton Daniels from Stanford will help TCU with its preparation, but the Knights are in a different class than the Cardinal or Long Island with its offensive personnel.
On the flip side, UCF hasn’t seen a defense as aggressive as TCU’s this season either. Both teams will learn a lot about themselves Saturday night, the Horned Frogs are hoping that the lesson comes after a victory.
