Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback KJ Jefferson and tight end Nathan Bax after Tuesday's practice starting preparations for road game at Ole Miss on Saturday night.
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00:00 - Hey, it's KJ.
00:01 Obviously you're going back to your home state.
00:03 You had a great game there two years ago
00:06 and just kind of wonder what are your feelings
00:08 about going back and playing Ole Miss
00:10 and you know, going back to your home state?
00:13 - I feel pretty good.
00:15 I mean, just knowing that I'm going to have a lot of support
00:16 in the stands, family and friends that I ain't never seen
00:20 me play in person.
00:21 So it's going to be kind of cool
00:23 for them to get a chance to come out
00:24 and see me play live in a college football game.
00:27 So looking forward to it.
00:29 I feel like it's going to be an electric atmosphere.
00:31 It's going to be fun.
00:32 And I'm just looking forward to getting down there.
00:35 - And for both of you guys, maybe KJ
00:36 and then Nathan, you could take it.
00:38 You know, obviously last week was Rockets' first game back
00:40 for a while.
00:42 How'd you think he handled that?
00:43 And what do you see from him this week?
00:44 Do you feel like maybe he's a little more ready
00:46 to break out, you know, a second game back from the injury?
00:50 - I feel like he was pretty ready, like you said.
00:54 I mean, like you said, he was just wanting to knock the rust
00:56 out, get back into the rhythm of things.
00:58 It's kind of hard, like, sending out
01:00 and then trying to come back
01:01 and then pick up where you left off.
01:03 So he just, this week, I mean, he's approached it
01:06 like a vet, being very mature about the situation
01:09 and just been working his tail off in practice
01:11 and focusing on the little small details
01:13 that's going to help separate him
01:15 and help get him into a groove early, early on in the game.
01:18 So he can play a huge factor in the game.
01:19 So he's been having a great week so far.
01:21 And like you said, I mean, just knocking the rust out
01:24 and get back into the rhythm of things
01:25 and getting back to playing how he want to play.
01:28 - And Nathan, you got a thought on that?
01:31 - My understanding is KJ there, he's taking it like a vet.
01:34 You know, he had a great comeback against A&M
01:37 and I expect nothing less for him to do the same
01:39 against Ole Miss and, you know, take off from there.
01:43 - Thanks.
01:44 - Tom.
01:45 - Hey KJ, we saw Patrick Kudas working at First Team Center.
01:50 Just wonder what you think about what it's like
01:52 taking the snaps from him
01:53 and how that's working so far this week.
01:56 - It's been good.
01:57 We made a couple of adjustments up front
01:59 and those guys have handled it well.
02:02 The main thing is being able to make sure
02:04 PK is building confidence,
02:06 getting his confidence level up each and every day,
02:08 him getting back at center
02:10 and making sure he's on the right,
02:12 everybody's on the right page
02:13 as far as communication with him.
02:14 And me telling him, just, you know what I'm saying,
02:17 take it one play at a time, start with the snap first
02:19 and then just let your confidence build up
02:21 and just let your instincts take over at that point.
02:23 So, I mean, he's been doing a really good job.
02:25 The guys around him have been positive,
02:28 giving positive feedback to make sure
02:29 his confidence level is going through the roof.
02:31 So, it's been so good so far.
02:34 - Hey Nathan, the team periods,
02:35 what have you seen from the movement
02:37 that there's been on the O-line this week?
02:40 - Definitely seen it's gone smoothly.
02:43 You can definitely tell PK's really getting used to that spot
02:46 and then things are starting to set in place too
02:47 as we get into Tuesday and I'm sure tomorrow,
02:49 but it's been a smooth transition from a skill standpoint
02:53 and communication has been well as well there.
02:56 - Cool, hey, kind of a two-part question, Nathan.
02:59 What's the room been like, you know,
03:00 losing Luke the way you did last week
03:03 and then kind of what have you seen from,
03:05 Coach Pittman said, basically open competition
03:07 that tied in this week?
03:09 - Yeah, you know, it was really unfortunate to lose Luke,
03:11 but, you know, he's in good spirits
03:12 and he's going to be right back.
03:13 He had a great start to the season
03:14 and I expect him to take off once he gets back from there,
03:17 but, you know, we're keeping the same schedule as normal,
03:20 you know, every week's a competition
03:22 and we're going to continue that
03:23 just with a little more edge this week
03:24 and, you know, locking on the details as well.
03:27 - Cool, hey, my last question.
03:28 Y'all know how crazy this series has been.
03:30 I mean, the last two years have been wild games.
03:33 Henry Heave in 2015 is probably one of the biggest plays
03:37 in Arkansas history.
03:39 KJ, what maybe is there about this rivalry
03:42 that kind of brings out some craziness, you think?
03:45 - I feel like it's just SEC for one
03:49 and then just every time we play Ole Miss
03:51 it's always a shootout, it's always a battle,
03:54 it's always war and it's always excitement.
03:56 I mean, that's what you come to the SEC for.
03:58 So just two great teams just battling
04:01 and let it all hang out.
04:03 So looking forward to it.
04:05 - Your thoughts, Nathan, about the wildness
04:07 that has taken place in this series?
04:09 - Yeah, you know, there's always going to be fireworks
04:11 in that game and I think both teams play
04:13 with the chip on their shoulder
04:14 and that you got to expect to go out there
04:16 and, you know, keep throwing punches.
04:18 So we're always excited for this game.
04:19 It's always one of those games that, you know,
04:20 we circle on the schedule.
04:21 This is going to be a big one for us.
04:23 - Trey.
04:26 - Yeah, Nathan, has Dominic, has he been working
04:29 just with the tight ends or has he worked
04:31 tight end, running back and where is he going,
04:33 like meeting room?
04:34 - He's been with both as far in the field
04:38 and then with running backs in the meeting room.
04:39 But he's done a good job wherever he's done.
04:42 He's embraced every step of it.
04:43 And, you know, he's always been a team guy.
04:45 So I expect nothing less from him, you know,
04:47 as far as embracing the role that, you know,
04:49 he's going to assume on Saturday.
04:51 - You think that could be a big transition for him?
04:54 I mean--
04:55 - I'm sure, yeah, I'm sure it wouldn't be for anyone,
04:56 but, you know, Dom's one of those guys
04:59 that's always going to put the team first.
05:00 And like I said, he's going to embrace it
05:02 and take it step by step.
05:04 And he's done a good job, you know,
05:07 doing it from running back and now doing it from tight end.
05:09 So he's done a good job doing both.
05:11 - Kajet, what's your thoughts on him working
05:15 at a little tight end also?
05:18 - Like Nathan said, I mean, he's basically a team player.
05:20 I mean, he's willing to put the team first,
05:24 just knowing that Luke went down
05:25 and, I mean, we got his opportunity at this point.
05:29 So, I mean, just him being able to step in
05:31 and give us a look at him at tight end,
05:34 just see, is he comfortable there?
05:37 And just the play call that we have that bring him in
05:40 and do different things with him.
05:41 And just knowing that he has a great football sense of IQ
05:44 and just knowing that certain plays are meant for him
05:47 to be in and stuff like that.
05:48 So it's always good having the guy
05:50 that always put the team first
05:51 and just love being a team player
05:53 and just knowing his role as well.
05:56 - Kajet, I know back in the spring,
05:57 there was probably a lot of thinking
05:59 with different players, a different position
06:00 with the new offense and stuff.
06:01 How do you guys feel right now?
06:03 I mean, is there any double thinking
06:06 or I don't know if double thinking is a real phrase,
06:08 but is there any thinking twice about stuff
06:10 or not being able to just kind of react
06:13 and stuff like you'd like to?
06:16 Not just you, but the whole offense.
06:18 Let's go guys.
06:19 - That's pretty frustrating at times, of course.
06:21 I mean, just knowing that we have a lot of talent
06:25 on the offensive side of the ball
06:26 and when things not going our way,
06:28 it kind of get frustrating at times,
06:30 but I mean, it's football.
06:31 I mean, it's a roller coaster.
06:33 I mean, so the main thing,
06:34 we want to try to take control of the roller coaster
06:36 and stay level headed, stay neutral,
06:38 make sure we bring everybody close together
06:39 and just stay together is the main part.
06:42 When we hit adverse situations,
06:43 just coming together as a team and bonding is one.
06:45 So on the offensive side,
06:47 I mean, it do get frustrating at times,
06:49 but as long as we keep our heads and keep chopping away,
06:53 I mean, it's going to eventually start falling in our favor.
06:56 - Thanks guys.
06:58 - Daniel.
06:59 - Daniel, you've worked five weeks under Coach Enos.
07:04 Just how's that been going so far
07:05 and the comfortability with him?
07:07 - It's been going good.
07:09 I mean, Coach Enos is a very intelligent guy.
07:11 He comes up with different schemes and schematics
07:15 each weekend and week out.
07:16 And I mean, he's just an intelligent guy, great coach.
07:21 Bring a sense of urgency to the team,
07:23 to the offensive side of the ball.
07:25 And he harsh big on, he emphasizes details a lot.
07:28 I mean, so just, he know me,
07:29 he's been around great teams and great players
07:31 and he know what our level of talent that we have
07:34 and a team that we have on the offensive side of the ball.
07:37 And he just expect greatness from us
07:38 each and every time we step out on the field.
07:40 So it's been good so far.