Information from Arkansas Communications is included in this story.
Quincy Rhodes Jr. just picked up another big honor before the season even starts.
The Maxwell Football Club named the Arkansas senior defensive lineman to the 2026 Chuck Bednarik Award Preseason Watch List Friday morning.
The award goes to the top defensive player in college football each year.
Rhodes is a North Little Rock native and he’s coming off a huge junior year.
In 2025 he racked up 44 total tackles. He led the Hogs with 15.5 tackles for loss. He also added eight sacks six quarterback hurries and a forced fumble.
That’s not a bad stat line for one season.
Rhodes chases history with his tackle numbers
His 15.5 tackles for loss were the most by an Arkansas player since Trey Flowers hit that same mark back in 2015.
Rhodes also became the first Razorback to reach double digit tackles for loss in a season since Landon Jackson did it in 2023.
On top of that he was the first Hog to post three multi sack games in one year since Tre Williams did it in 2021.
Nationally Rhodes ranked 13th in tackles for loss per game. He ranked second in the SEC in that same category with a rate of 1.23 per game. He also finished 23rd in the country in sacks per game.
One of his best outings came against Mississippi State on Nov. 1. Rhodes piled up six tackles that day. That included 4.5 tackles for loss one sack and a forced fumble.
Only two other Power Four defenders matched that 4.5 tackle for loss mark in a single game last year. Those two were Stephen Daley of Indiana and Caden Curry of Ohio State.
Rhodes’ outing was actually the best single game total for an Arkansas defender since 2005.
Razorbacks star ranks near the top of the SEC
Rhodes wasn’t done there either. He also posted four tackles for loss and two sacks in a road win at Memphis on Sept. 20.
Looking ahead to 2026 Rhodes’ numbers put him near the top of SEC returnees.
His 1.29 tackles for loss per game from last season ranks second only to Auburn linebacker Xavier Atkins.
His 77 tackle for loss yards from a year ago actually rank first among all returning SEC players.
Rhodes joins two other returning 2025 semifinalists on this year’s watch list.
Those two are Atkins from Auburn and Leonard Moore from Notre Dame. The list spans FBS programs from coast to coast.
More preseason hardware is stacking up for Rhodes
This isn’t the only preseason nod for Rhodes. He already grabbed second team all SEC honors from Athlon Sports SEC media members and SEC coaches.
Phil Steele tabbed him as a third team preseason pick as well. Rhodes also landed a spot on the 2027 Panini Senior Bowl Top 300 List.
Semifinalists for the Bednarik Award get announced Nov. 10. Finalists follow on Nov. 24.
The winner gets revealed at the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Dec. 10.
Arkansas opens its season against North Alabama inside Razorback Stadium on Sept. 5.
Kickoff is set for 3:15 p.m. on SEC Network.
Key takeaways
- Quincy Rhodes Jr. made the 2026 Chuck Bednarik Award preseason watch list after leading Arkansas with 15.5 tackles for loss in 2025
- His single game total of 4.5 tackles for loss against Mississippi State was the best by a Hog since 2005
- Rhodes ranks second among SEC returnees in tackles for loss per game and first in tackle for loss yards heading into 2026
