Arkansas fans finally know who’s speaking for the program in Tampa this month.
First-year coach Ryan Silverfield is bringing three players to SEC Media Days, and the group leans heavily on experience over star power.
Senior edge Quincy Rhodes Jr. leads the trio. He’s coming off a second-team All-SEC year and a season that put him near the top of Arkansas’ record books.
Rhodes piled up 44 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks in 2025, and he also forced a fumble and picked up six quarterback hurries along the way.
Those 15.5 tackles for loss matter more than they might look at first glance. It’s the most by an Arkansas defender since Trey Flowers hit that same number back in 2015.
Rhodes is also the first Hog to crack double-digit tackles for loss since Landon Jackson had 13.5 in 2023, so he’s in some rare company for a program that’s produced plenty of good defensive linemen.
Kitler brings the offensive line’s voice
Center Caden Kitler rounds out the offensive line representation. He transferred in from UCF and started 11 of 12 games last fall, anchoring a group that allowed just 29 sacks all season.
That’s the fewest sacks Arkansas has given up since 2019, when the number sat at 19, so Kitler’s presence up front made a real difference in pass protection.
He also helped clear paths for a rushing attack that finished with the second-best rushing numbers in the SEC, averaging 191.9 yards per game.
Kitler is working through his final season of eligibility, so this trip to Tampa doubles as one last chance to represent the Hogs on a big stage before he moves on.
Smith brings the Memphis connection
Running back Sutton Smith is the newcomer of the group, though he’s far from unfamiliar with Silverfield.
Smith spent four seasons playing for Silverfield at Memphis before following his coach to Fayetteville this offseason.
Last year he rushed for 669 yards and seven touchdowns on 102 carries, adding 20 catches for 109 yards through the air.
He’s also on the preseason watch list for the Doak Walker Award, which goes to the nation’s top running back.
With Arkansas not naming a starting quarterback yet, Smith gives the Razorbacks a skill-position voice to pair alongside two linemen and pass rushers.
SEC Media Days runs as a four-day event in Tampa, and Silverfield takes the podium on the final day Thursday.
Key takeaways
- Quincy Rhodes Jr. posted Arkansas’ best tackles-for-loss season since Trey Flowers in 2015
- Caden Kitler helped the Hogs allow their fewest sacks since 2019
- Sutton Smith followed Silverfield from Memphis and lands on the Doak Walker watch list
