Sunday is Arkansas Day for the SEC Network Takeover. Today, the SEC Network will feature some of the best moments of Arkansas athletics during the 2024-25 academic year.
When it comes to Arkansas football, the Razorbacks have had some great quarterbacks over the years. Especially in recent memory, there have been plenty of great gunslingers to call Fayetteville home.
In honor of Arkansas Takeover Day on the SEC Network, let’s take a look at the 4 quarterbacks who would make up the Razorbacks’ Mount Rushmore of QBs.
(On Saturday, this series started with Alabama’s QB Mount Rushmore. Auburn will be coming on Monday.)
Ryan Mallett (2009-10)
After coming over from Michigan and sitting out the 2008 season, Mallett made a major impact in his 2 seasons as the Arkansas starter. His 2010 season was one for the record books. Mallett threw for 32 touchdowns, the best single-season mark in Arkansas history. He also threw for a program-record 3,869 yards that year.
Mallett was only the Hogs’ QB1 for 2 seasons, but he still ranks third all-time in school history in pass yards (7,493) and touchdown passes (62).
Sadly, Mallett passed away in 2023, but his impact on Arkansas football won’t soon be forgotten. He had one of the strongest arms in school history and that 2010 season, which included a win over then-No. 6 LSU at War Memorial Stadium, was the best the Hogs have ever seen at the QB position.
KJ Jefferson (2019-23)
Jefferson accounted for 88 total touchdowns during his time at Arkansas, which spanned parts of 5 seasons. He spent 3 years as the Razorbacks’ QB1, doing enough during that time to become the Hogs’ all-time leader in passing yards, posting 7,911 over his career. He’s also the all-time Arkansas leader in TD passes, with 67.
When Jefferson took over as the full-time starter in 2021, the Hogs improved from 2-10 in 2019 and 3-7 in 2020 to 9-4 under Jefferson’s leadership.
Jefferson deserves a lot of credit for helping coach Sam Pittman dig the Razorbacks out of the abyss following Chad Morris’s tenure.
If he hadn’t left Arkansas after the 2023 season, he might have extended his records in passing yards and touchdowns. Since COVID years of eligibility are now over (I think? Who knows anymore?), it’ll be tough for anyone to match what Jefferson accomplished in Fayetteville.
Tyler Wilson (2008-12)
Following Ryan Mallett as the starter for Arkansas was no easy task, but Wilson did it well in 2011, throwing for 3,638 yards and 24 touchdowns. He became the first Arkansas QB (and so far only Arkansas QB) to be named to the All-SEC First Team. Wilson’s accuracy was always underrated. Until the aforementioned Jefferson came along, Wilson was the Arkansas all-time leader in completion percentage, too.
Wilson didn’t necessarily wow you with Mallett-like arm talent or the dual-threat ability of Jefferson and the next guy on this list, but he was a very talented, very underrated signal caller during his time with the Razorbacks.
The Hogs went 11-2 that season, losing only to No. 1 LSU and No. 3 Alabama. Arkansas finished No. 5 in the AP Poll after beating Kansas State in the Cotton Bowl. That’s still the only time since 1977 that the Hogs have finished in the top 5 in the AP Poll.
Matt Jones (2001-04)
In terms of being an athlete at the QB position, Arkansas has never had someone like Matt Jones. He posted more than 2,500 rushing yards in his Razorback career to go with more than 5,800 passing yards.
Check out this highlight reel that shows off his versatility:
He was selected in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars… as a receiver. He played 4 seasons in the NFL with the Jaguars, posting more than 2,500 yards and 15 touchdowns.
His leadership at Arkansas led the Hogs to back-to-back 9-win seasons in 2002 and 2003. In that 2002 campaign, the Hogs split the SEC West title with Auburn, earning the SEC Championship Game invite due to a head-to-head win over Auburn. Yes, the Hogs went on to lose 30-3 to Georgia, but it was still an incredible run by Jones and the Razorbacks.
Honorable Mentions: Clint Stoerner, Brandon Allen, Fred Marshall, Joe Ferguson, Bill Montgomery
Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.
