“My mom has always been my biggest supporter, my rock,” KJ Jefferson once remarked, highlighting the significant role his parents have played in his journey to becoming a standout quarterback for the UCF Knights.

Born on May 20, 2001, in Sardis, Mississippi, the unwavering support and guidance of his parents, particularly his mother, Katorie Moore has shaped KJ’s football career.

Background of KJ’s parents

KJ Jefferson’s mother, Katorie Moore, has been a central figure in his life, providing both emotional and practical support. Despite facing significant health challenges, including a stroke and brain surgery while KJ was in high school, Katorie’s determination to recover and support her son never wavered. “With her going through what she went through, it just showed me how strong she is,” KJ shared in an interview.

Her presence in the football activities is enough to notice Katorie’s support for KJ. She is a familiar face at the scene, and numerous times, it has been reported that she has been there to cheer for her son. Katorie has always tried to support and provide constant guidance to me. KJ mentioned in an interview that she would keep reminding him to act correctly, both on and off the field. Her role in KJ’s life was crucial, helping him mainly to deal with the stress of being a top athlete.

There is also a belief that Kenneth Jefferson Sr., father of KJ, played a significant role in his formative years, although very little information is available about him. The matching T-shirts that KJ’s family wears to his games demonstrate their unity. These shirts, featuring images of KJ, demonstrate the family’s unity and commitment to standing together. “We had to come there and represent KJ,” Katorie emphasized to Yahoo Sports, underlining the importance of their presence and vocal support.

Influence on career

KJ was amazing on and off the field. The success began in Arkansas as a Razorback; then he excelled as a leader for the UFC Knights. In his five years starting at Arkansas, Jefferson has thrown for 7,911 yards, rushed for 2,107 more, and compiled 86 touchdowns. At Arkansas, Jefferson broke a few school records, including career completions. Jefferson showed some of it in his first season with the UCF Knights, passing for 271 yards in the spring game and going 12-of-22 with two touchdowns, proving how facilely he is adapting to the new environment. “It was a blast. It’s the last one, so I had fun out there,” said Jefferson of his showing in the event, and followed it by stating he wanted just to be consistent and get better every day.

For Jefferson, what pushed him to transfer was being around his quarterback guru in Coach Gus Malzahn, whom he has long been a fan of, and his work with other QBs—most notably Cam Newton. “I watched him growing up. I modeled myself after Cam,” Jefferson said, to take a calculated step in joining UCF for his final college season. Jefferson’s experience and leadership in a UCF uniform will better equip the team to compete in the Big 12.

With him making his debut and performing very well in the recent past, he will be one of the most important players for the Knights this season. Much still needs to be done, yet with this development, Jefferson proves his dedication runs deep, and the base set for him by his family and his early football experiences in Arkansas is solid.