Arkansas Razorbacks Name Starting Quarterback for 2026 Season
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — After months of evaluation throughout the spring and summer, first-year Arkansas head coach Ryan Silverfield and quarterbacks coach Mitch Cramsey have finally settled on their starter.
Redshirt sophomore KJ Jackson has won the quarterback competition and will take over as the Razorbacks’ starting quarterback for the 2026 season.
Jackson had been viewed as the leading candidate for much of the offseason, and the coaching staff has now officially confirmed the decision.
The Montgomery, Alabama, native appeared in six games last season, making two starts. He completed 63% of his passes while accounting for 552 yards and five total touchdowns.
One area that has drawn attention throughout the offseason has been Jackson’s accuracy. While he has occasionally struggled to hit some easier throws during practice, his coaches have also noticed that he tends to perform at his best when the competition intensifies.
“We’ve talked to him about some of his misses, some of his easy completion-type deals,” quarterbacks coach Mitch Stewart said earlier this month. He explained that some of Jackson’s issues come down to fundamentals, including shoulder positioning and driving through throws.
Still, Stewart acknowledged that Arkansas cannot afford to leave open opportunities on the field.
For Jackson, however, the most important factor has been continuing to improve his decision-making. He believes his ability to recognize defenses before the snap and work through progressions more efficiently has improved with each practice.
“That’s been the story of my life since I’ve been here,” Jackson said. He added that his focus has been on making quicker pre-snap reads, getting through progressions faster, and recognizing open receivers before they have completely separated.
Those improvements could prove especially valuable as Jackson takes on a full-time role in the SEC.
The 6-foot-4, 225-pound quarterback brings something that cannot be taught in practice: actual SEC game experience. Although his playing time has been limited, Jackson has already faced conference competition, giving him a valuable foundation as he prepares to become Arkansas’ starter.
Jackson was a four-star recruit coming out of high school and was ranked No. 10 at his position by Rivals. Despite having the opportunity to explore other options through the transfer portal this offseason, he chose to remain at Arkansas and continue with the program.
That decision is particularly notable in the current era of college football, where players frequently change schools in search of playing time or better opportunities.
Jackson instead stayed committed to the teammates who joined the Razorbacks alongside him, including CJ Brown, Bradley Shaw, Kobe Branham, Wyatt Simmons, Braylen Russell and Charlie Collins.
That kind of loyalty can be valuable for a first-year head coach like Silverfield. Having experienced players who have remained committed to the program gives the Razorbacks an established core of leadership as they enter a new era.
Now, Jackson will get his opportunity to prove that the coaching staff made the right choice.
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