First reported by On3, the dynamic Arkansas dual-threat quarterback made the stunning decision to transfer to UCF on Monday, the first day of 2024.
This transfer portal addition comes in the wake of the dual-sport football and baseball star Rhys-Plumlee opting for the NFL Draft on Saturday. Jefferson’s future arrival to Orlando also gives UCF the type of running and throwing threat head coach Gus Malzahn prefers for his RPO (run-pass option) style offense.
And Jefferson will arrive on the UCF campus with his own decorated resume: 7,923 passing yards, 67 total touchdown passes and just 18 interceptions. He also won 20 of his 39 total starts while facing the SEC gauntlet — including dealing with SEC West Division heavyweights LSU, Ole Miss, and Alabama.
Jefferson delivered one of his better games against the Tigers in Baton Rouge. He went 21 of 31 for 289 yards and tossed three touchdowns with two picks in the 34-31 loss to LSU.
For his final season in Fayetteville, Jefferson threw 2,107 yards with 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions. As a runner, he tacked on 447 yards with two rushing TDs. But for his career, Jefferson accumulated 1,876 yards with 21 rushing scores with the Razorbacks.
Jefferson isn’t just known in the SEC for damaging defenses by air and land. With his 6’3″, 247-pound frame, he’s proven he’s tough to bring down — especially on this botched sack attempt by Western Carolina that ended with Jefferson rolling left and completing the first down.
MORE: College Football Transfer Portal Tracker
Jefferson’s addition comes with Rhys Plumlee pursuing the NFL and assures UCF can pull a QB out of the portal. Per On3’s Pete Nakos, the Knights hosted Coastal Carolina star Grayson McCall before Jefferson’s commitment. McCall, though, will stay in the Carolinas and suit up for NC State in 2024.
UCF ends up beating out Miami and TCU for Jefferson, according to Nakos — the latter of whom became a Big 12 rival for the Knights in 2023.
