Ja’Quinden Jackson’s first Razorback game huge success

FAYETTEVILLE — Utah’s leading rusher in 2023 is now with the University of Arkansas and on Thursday night he picked up where he left off last season.

Jackson, who didn’t play in the second half, finished with eight carries for 101 yards and two touchdowns on the ground while also catching a pair of passes for 20 yards.

“I was just having fun,” Jackson said. “Having fun with the guys, flying around the field. And the o-line did great tonight. Had 100 in the first half. Couldn’t ask for nothing better.”

The Hogs struggled to run the football in 2023. They had nine rushing touchdowns the entire season. Against UAPB, the Hogs rushed for eight touchdowns.

“It was exciting,” Jackson said. “Like you said, it wasn’t good last year. And we picked it up this year. But, it’s a lot of stuff we have to work on, as well, to get better and get where we want to go. But it is exciting to see what we do, what we did.”

Sam Pittman was pleased to see the production in the running game after last season’s struggles.

“I thought our running backs ran really hard,” Pittman said. “I think Ja’Quinden Jackson proved he can run over you, he can make you miss, he also caught a nice ball out of the backfield. But our offensive line, they didn’t pressure us much, but I don’t know that Taylen (Green) got hit. I think he got flushed out of the pocket when he ran the long one, but I think our offensive line, we needed a game like this for some confidence to gel together. I thought Coach (Eric) Mateos did a really good job of getting the ready and our backs ran extremely hard. Braylen Russell, I don’t know how long it was, 8, 9, 10 yards or something. Ran really hard. Tyrell Reed came in and ran really hard. So I think we’ve got about 4-5 backs right now that, Kolby Smith’s done a nice job of getting them where they’re running with a lot of power and doing a good job.”

Pittman was asked specifically about Jackson’s performance?

“Again, I think he showed what he can do,” Pittman said. “He can run over you. On our sideline, he lowered his head or lowered his shoulder and ran over a guy, then the next play made 2-3 in the hole miss. Like I said, he caught a really nice ball out of the backfield. I like the group of backs we have because they’re all a little bit different, but JJ rushing 8 times for 101 yards was a good job for him and a good job by the offensive line, tight ends, wideouts blocking for him.”

Jackson was asked if he knew the last run he had got him over 100 yards for the game?

“I don’t ever know my stats,” Jackson said. “I always see them after. I don’t ever check my phone at halftime when I could do it. I’m just locked in on the game.”

Despite leading Utah in rushing last season with 161 carries for 797 yards and four touchdowns he battled injuries much of the year. He was pleased to begin his career at Arkansas healthy.

“Oh, it feels great,” Jackson said. “I feel like me, just a little heavier.”

The 6-foot-2, 233-pound Jackson logged his sixth career 100-yard rushing game and his fourth career multi-rushing touchdown performance.

Jackson and the Razorbacks will return to the practice fields on Monday as they await Saturday’s big game against No. 17 Oklahoma State in Stillwater. The kickoff is set for 11 a.m. on ABC.