Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback KJ Jefferson and running back Dominique Johnson after practice Tuesday looking ahead to Friday's game with Missouri to wrap up the season with no bowl game in sight this year.
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00:00 Hey guys, just your thoughts going into the Missouri game.
00:04 How good of a defense do they have?
00:06 - They have a really good defense.
00:08 They're playing extremely hard.
00:10 They're very disciplined and sound.
00:12 They do a lot of things on the back end,
00:14 try to confuse the quarterback,
00:16 throw different looks and different coverages at us.
00:18 So we've been preparing and really studying for them
00:23 and trying to get some tips on who's telling the coverage
00:26 and what they're trying to disguise and do.
00:29 - This is the first week.
00:31 I'm sorry, go ahead, Dom.
00:33 - Offense, I think they really have a really good D-line,
00:37 a good front four.
00:38 I think the linebackers flow well, athletic, make plays,
00:42 and I think the secondary is good.
00:44 But I think the game plan that we came up for this week
00:47 is gonna be able to split some match-ups.
00:51 - This is the first time we've talked to you guys
00:52 since the announcement about Sam Pittman coming back in '24.
00:55 Dominic, what was the reaction?
00:56 What do y'all think about him having another year?
00:59 - The team loves Coach Pittman.
01:01 So whenever Coach Juracek announced that he was coming back,
01:06 the whole team was ecstatic, excited,
01:08 a whole bunch of emotion in the locker room
01:10 going on after the game, after the win.
01:12 Everybody was just excited to hear that he was coming back
01:15 because we love playing for him.
01:16 I know he loves to coach us
01:17 and everybody's willing to do anything for him.
01:21 - KJ, your thoughts?
01:22 - He pretty much hit it on the head, right on the head.
01:25 - All right.
01:26 There's the thought that Missouri has embraced
01:28 this rivalry more than Arkansas.
01:30 I think it's their only trophy game.
01:32 What do y'all think of that,
01:34 that they've attacked this rivalry
01:36 a little harder than y'all have?
01:38 - Oh, it's just, I mean, we look at it
01:41 as a rivalry game as well.
01:42 I mean, it's a trophy game,
01:43 so of course it's a big deal for us, for the team,
01:46 and also for the state of Arkansas as well.
01:48 So, I mean, we don't take them lightly.
01:50 We don't take, we're approaching this as a trophy game
01:54 and a big game for us.
01:55 So, I mean, we want to come out
01:56 and play Arkansas brand football
01:58 and then also just be able to be victorious at the end
02:01 and keep the trophy here in the state of Arkansas.
02:04 - Yeah, Dominic, what do you think?
02:05 Last chance for a trophy this year.
02:07 - I think the team is pretty excited.
02:09 I feel like even if it wasn't a trophy game,
02:12 I think that we would look at this team
02:14 that's still the same and play with our passion
02:17 and our pride.
02:19 I don't think that it, being Missouri,
02:22 that adds a little fire.
02:23 I think that the team wants to go out there and win.
02:25 I think that that's what everybody got their mind on.
02:29 - Thanks.
02:29 - Yeah, Dominic, 62 yards last week,
02:36 got a touchdown finally.
02:37 How did it feel to finally get back on track
02:39 and get some production going?
02:41 - It felt great just to be able to get back in the game
02:44 and get some carries
02:45 and being able to finally get going after our season,
02:49 late in the season.
02:50 It felt good to score,
02:52 even though it was a busted play, but it felt good.
02:55 - You're still wearing the knee brace.
02:57 You've been doing that all season.
02:59 Last year, I think you took it off.
03:01 You know, at some point you took it off.
03:03 What's the thought process behind that?
03:04 Does it just give you a little peace of mind or something?
03:07 And how is the knee?
03:09 - Yeah, the knee feels great.
03:10 Sometimes I do stuff and practice without it,
03:14 but for the most part, I have it on
03:15 just for a confidence booster
03:17 to know that I can do everything that I want to do
03:18 without having to worry about anything going the wrong way.
03:22 So I feel like the brace has helped me gain my confidence.
03:26 - KJ, what does this game mean to you?
03:28 I mean, obviously you guys have had some close games
03:30 against Missouri, but they've had Arkansas's number
03:33 even before you got here.
03:34 - That means a lot.
03:36 It's a trophy game and I know how big it is
03:38 for the state of Arkansas
03:39 to be able to have that trophy here in the state.
03:42 So it's a big game.
03:43 We went back and forth.
03:45 I mean, it was my first start versus Missouri.
03:48 So I always remember that and just going into it,
03:51 just knowing that it's always going to be a battle
03:54 between both teams and a lot of scoring going on.
03:58 So, I mean, I'm looking forward to it.
03:59 It's going to be a great atmosphere.
04:00 It's going to be a fun game to be a part of.
04:02 And we're just looking to play our brand of ball
04:05 and come out victorious.
04:07 - KJ, you've been here for five years.
04:08 Have you given any thought,
04:10 whether you've come to a decision or not,
04:12 about your future at Arkansas, if you'll use your plus one?
04:15 - I haven't.
04:16 I'm just focused on Missouri.
04:20 After that, then I'll make my decision.
04:21 But right now I'm just focused on Missouri.
04:23 - All right. Thanks, fellas.
04:25 - Jackson, close it down, man.
04:26 - Yeah, kind of a weird question for you guys.
04:31 This is going to be the Arkansas's last game on CBS,
04:34 just with, you know,
04:35 they're not showing the SEC star next year.
04:38 I'm just wondering, you know, do you guys,
04:41 does it feel a little extra special
04:42 when you guys have played games on CBS?
04:44 Is that something you guys take note of at all,
04:46 or is that something you guys don't really think about?
04:49 - We don't really think about it at all.
04:51 I mean, we focus on the opponent.
04:53 We don't just really, you know,
04:55 we're too much put emphasis on
04:57 what a station will be broadcasted on.
05:00 And we just try to go out there and play football.
05:03 - I figured, just wanted to ask.
05:05 And Dom, you know, you had a breakout game on Saturday,
05:08 but Isaiah obviously did too.
05:10 And Isaiah has kind of talked about learning
05:13 from the other running backs in the room.
05:14 I'm just curious, like,
05:15 what have you seen from his development over, you know,
05:18 the season that kind of allowed him
05:19 to have the breakout on Saturday?
05:21 - Yeah, Isaiah has had a bunch of growth
05:24 just from the beginning of the season until last week,
05:28 even now, just seeing him come in every day
05:31 and then finally being able to get an opportunity
05:34 to play last week.
05:34 He comes in every day, asks questions.
05:37 He wants to get better.
05:38 And being that he has me, you know,
05:40 some guys that has experience that's been here,
05:43 being able to help him out,
05:46 I feel like that really helped him in the game
05:49 'cause coming back to the sideline,
05:51 he's getting information from us
05:53 on what we sent on the field
05:54 to help him go out there and produce.
05:56 So I feel like he just came a long way.
05:59 - Trey, you have another?
06:03 - I'm good, but I mean, I guess I could ask,
06:07 this is also the last regular season game
06:09 between an East and a West opponent.
06:11 You guys know that?
06:12 And do you care about that?
06:15 - Yeah, I didn't know that.
06:17 That's not something that, you know,
06:19 that we look into or just know about,
06:21 but we do go out there and play our ball.
06:23 - Sometimes we just ask questions to say you don't care,
06:27 to hear you say you don't care about it.
06:29 Thanks, guys.