UCF quarterback KJ Jefferson named Preseason Big 12 Newcomer of the Year 

Tony Adame

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UCF quarterback KJ Jefferson named Preseason Big 12 Newcomer of the Year  image

UCF started its tenure in the Big 12 Conference with a resounding thud in 2023, going 6-7 overall and 3-6 in conference play under third-year head coach Gus Malzhan. 

Headed into 2024, UCF might have a player that could lift the program out of the dregs in quarterback KJ Jefferson, who the media selected as the Preseason Big 12 Newcomer of the Year on July 3. 

Jefferson transferred to UCF after three seasons as the full-time starter at Arkansas and setting almost every significant passing record in school history, including passing yards (7,923), touchdown passes (67), completions (626) and completion percentage (65.1). 

In 2023, Jefferson and the Razorbacks stumbled to a 4-8 record after going 16-8 over his previous two seasons as the starter. Jefferson also threw for a career-low 2,107 yards, rushed for a career-low 447 yards and threw for a career-high 8 interceptions.

UCF opens the season at home against New Hampshire on Aug. 29. 

Tony Adame

Tony Adame Photo

Tony Adame covers the Big 12 Conference for The Sporting News. He is a graduate of Southern Oregon University and has been a sports journalist for 20 years. He has won APSE Awards for breaking news, games stories and feature writing. He is also the writer and host of the Florida Society of News Editors Award-winning podcast The Sheriff: Murder, Lies & Revenge in Okaloosa County for USA Today/Gannett.