At the start of the 2025 season, few outside of Fayetteville were talking about Quincy Rhodes Jr. as one of the SEC’s next breakout stars. Now, halfway through November, the Arkansas edge rusher has forced his name into every serious NFL Draft conversation and he’s done it with sheer dominance.
The 6-foot-6, 270-pound junior has been a revelation for the Razorbacks’ defense, stepping into a massive role following the departure of Landon Jackson, a 2024 third-round pick of the Buffalo Bills. Rhodes not only embraced the challenge, he’s surpassed expectations in nearly every way.
"“I learned a lot from Landon last year,” Rhodes said back in August. “Now it’s my turn to take that next step.”"Quincy Rhodes
From “Wait and See” to SEC Standout
Early in the year, even Arkansas’ own coaching staff wasn’t sure what to expect from Rhodes. According to A to Z Sports analyst Ryan Roberts, Rhodes entered the season as more of a developmental project than a projected star.
"“This offseason, the staff didn’t really mention Quincy,” Roberts said. “He was more like a ‘wait and see’ type of player. They were high on the athlete he is, but they were just waiting for everything to click mentally.”"Ryan Roberts
Well, it clicked fast.
After starting just one game across his first two seasons, Rhodes has started eight of nine contests this year and ranks among the SEC’s elite defenders, tied for the conference lead with 14 tackles for loss and sitting second with eight sacks.
Three times this season, he’s recorded multiple tackles for loss in a game, including a monster 4.5-TFL performance against Mississippi State being the first Razorback to post that number in a single game since 2005, and the most by any SEC player in 2025. He also had four tackles for loss against Memphis earlier this fall, becoming the first player in Arkansas history to record 4+ TFLs in multiple games in one season.
A Nightmare for Offensive Coordinators
Even with Arkansas sitting at 2-7, opposing coordinators have been forced to game-plan around Rhodes every single week. His rare combination of length, athleticism, and power makes him nearly impossible to block one-on-one.
At 6-foot-6 with long arms and explosive first-step quickness, Rhodes has all the measurables NFL scouts drool over and the production to match. Despite his size, he’s proven to be just as effective setting the edge against the run as he is collapsing the pocket.
It's that kind of dual-threat ability is what has NFL evaluators taking notice.
He’s still only 20 years old and in his true junior season. When you see that youth, that production, and that potential together, teams start looking closely. If he declares, he’s definitely a top-50 player in this class, probably even a mid-second-round type of guy.
Rising NFL Draft Stock
If Rhodes does decide to leave school early for the 2026 NFL Draft, he could make Arkansas history. According to ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr., Rhodes currently ranks as the eighth-best defensive end in the 2026 class and has been projected as a first-round selection in several early mock drafts.
Should he crack the top 50, he would become the highest-drafted Razorback defensive lineman since Jamaal Anderson, who went eighth overall to the Atlanta Falcons in 2007.
Scouts love that Rhodes is still developing but already producing at a high level, a rare combination. Many edge rushers his size tend to be one-dimensional or struggle in run defense, but Rhodes has shown balance, maturity, and physicality beyond his years.
The Sky’s the Limit
Whether Rhodes declares for the 2026 draft or returns to Fayetteville for his senior year, one thing is certain and that is the fact his breakout is no fluke.
From a rotational piece to one of the SEC’s premier edge defenders, Rhodes has earned every bit of respect he’s getting from NFL circles. And as one of the few bright spots in a tough season for Arkansas, he’s giving the Razorbacks a foundation to build on and giving NFL teams a reason to keep their eyes on Fayetteville every Saturday.