Only one Arkansas Razorback selected for Preseason All-SEC honors

With SEC Media Days officially in the rearview mirror, the final countdown to the start of the Arkansas football season has begun.

As the Hogs prepare for their season opener against the North Alabama Lions on Sept. 5, the SEC media have released their selections for the preseason All-SEC teams, and the results don't bode well for the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Quincy Rhodes receives Arkansas' only preseason All-SEC nod

According to the preseason All-SEC teams selected by the SEC media, only one player from first-year coach Ryan Silverfield's team made the cut: second-team preseason All-SEC defensive lineman Quincy Rhodes Jr.

It makes sense that Rhodes would receive preseason recognition from the media after his breakout performance in 2025, which saw him earn second-team All-SEC honors from both the conference's coaches and the Associated Press after tallying eight sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss. The 6-foot-6, 273-pound edge rusher from North Little Rock High School is one of the few players returning to the Hogs after the mass exodus following Sam Pittman's firing, and he'll be a crucial part of the Arkansas Razorbacks' defense this year as the unit forges a new identity under Silverfield and defensive coordinator Ron Roberts.

Rhodes' 15.5 tackles for loss were the most by an Arkansas defender since Trey Flowers (15.5 TFL in 2014), and he became the first Hog since Landon Jackson (13.5) to record double-digit tackles for loss in a season. For a team that struggled to find positives during a 2-10 campaign, Rhodes was a rare bright spot for the Razorbacks a year ago.

However, it's still disappointing that the media didn't select any other Razorbacks for the preseason All-SEC teams.

Arkansas Has Several Players Capable of Outperforming Expectations

The Arkansas Razorbacks were projected to finish dead last in the SEC by the same media pool that selected the All-SEC teams, so it isn't exactly surprising that the preseason teams included so few Hogs. Still, having only one player selected for these honors speaks to just how low expectations are for Silverfield's squad heading into this season.

The Hogs have several returning starters -- C Caden Kitler, G Kobe Branham, TE Jaden Platt, WR CJ Brown, DE Quincy Rhodes, LB Bradley Shaw, and DB Miguel Mitchell -- and a handful of major returning contributors -- OL Kavion Broussard, RB Braylen Russell, DL Charlie Collins -- who could all take legitimate strides this year under a new coaching staff. Between those returners and the more than 40 transfers joining the program, there are plenty of candidates who could emerge as All-SEC performers this year.

Branham has already received fourth-team preseason All-SEC recognition from Athlon Sports, while Memphis transfer Malachi Breland earned the same distinction from Phil Steele. Those selections don't carry the same weight as the SEC media's vote, but they speak to the idea that Rhodes isn't Arkansas' only plausible all-conference player.

If Arkansas is going to be more competitive than expected in Silverfield's first season, the Hogs will need to be more than a one-star roster. It's hard to imagine a scenario in which Quincy Rhodes is the team's only All-SEC selection and the Hogs also win more than five games, meaning Silverfield will need several of the team's unproven players to emerge as legitimate SEC contributors.

Rhodes gives Arkansas a legitimate star to rally around, but the perceived gap between him and the rest of the roster is exactly why the Razorbacks are being picked to finish last in the SEC. Now, it's up to them to change that perception. 

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