Quincy Rhodes helps Arkansas close War Memorial in style, earns ROW nod

How the Arkansas Razorbacks can generate a pass rush for the 2025 football campaign presents as one of the biggest questions facing coach Sam Pittman’s team. Through two non-conference games so far the Razorbacks seem to have found a special QR code to help solve that puzzle in junior defensive end Quincy Rhodes Jr.

Quincy Rhodes earns Razorbacker of the Week

Rhodes racked up two sacks, a pair of stops for negative yardage and six total tackles in the Razorbacks 56-14 win over the Arkansas State Red Wolves on Saturday. The performance was an appropriate way to help close out the War Memorial Stadium era in Razorback football and also earn Razorbacker of the Week honors for the 6-6 275-pound native of North Little Rock. 

“I'd like to say yes. I really would. So, yes,” Pittman said when asked if playing in his hometown to close out the historic venue gave Rhodes motivation coming into the game. “I think that him coming back and playing in this stadium, and I don't know. I just think he's getting better, but yes. I think playing here, and playing in front of the fans here meant something to him, and me, and a lot of people.”

Rhodes, who only started one game a year ago but made several big plays in big games like Tennessee, Texas A&M and the Liberty Bowl win over Texas Tech, agreed that the opportunity to play in what is likely to be the Razorbacks’ final game in Little Rock hit a little different. 

“Playing here is real special to me,” he said. “I have a lot of family here. I know that this is supposed to be like the last game here, so I have to make sure we ended it up with a bang.

“Just speaking to my other teammates, I told them big teams like LSU, Alabama and like big, big schools like that — they played here. It’s just the game that everybody's been wanting for years. So, I thank God I'm a part of this opportunity, and this is in the history.”

Arkansas's pass rush on the rise

The Razorback pass defense fell from fourth to last in the Southeastern Conference in 2024, and the anemic pass rush played a significant role. After leading the conference in sacks in 2022, Arkansas finished in the bottom third of the SEC the last two years. The Razorbacks finished 10th among 14 in 2023 and 11th among 16 in 2024. Both seasons the Razorbacks were led with six sacks by Landon Jackson who was drafted in the third round by the NFL’s Buffalo Bills. 

Going into SEC play this Saturday at Ole Miss, Rhodes and teammate Phillip Lee are half way to matching Jackson’s totals. 

“Phillip Lee he had 1.5 sacks today and you guys were searching for a second defensive end with Quincy,” Pittman told reporters after the game. “I mean. How important is it to see these kinds of sacks? You look at those two guys, and you got three and a half sacks between the two of them. Regardless of who you're playing, you've got to get back to the quarterback, and a lot of times you have to blitz to get there. We didn't today. Oh, we blitzed, but we didn't have to get that necessarily on those sacks. So they're both (playing well). I think Quincy is going to be really, really, really special, and Phillip is that guy that we needed to run the edge and make some sacks. He's done that so far.”

Rhodes and Lee spearheaded an Arkansas defensive front that made it possible for the Razorback linebacking corps to go from five tackles in the season opening 52-7 win over Alabama A&M to 25 on Saturday. Preseason All SEC linebacker Xavien Sorey Jr. returned to form and led the way with 14 tackles and one of the team’s two interceptions. 

“We didn't want to start slow this week,” Sorey said. “Our front seven did a good job. We had all type of guys with sacks and TFL's and things like that. So (we’re) just flying around to the ball. 

“I think tonight it was a lot of hats around the ball. That was one of the biggest things (our coaches) emphasized. Everybody's got a lot of hats to the ball. Let’s make it scary for whoever got the ball and we definitely did a good job. Run to the ball and just being physical and playing with relentless effort. So, I'm happy for our defense in front seven and even the back end."

Arkansas State quarterback Jaylen Raynor was held 125 yards passing and two interceptions in the game. He was also bottled up on the ground with only 35 yards rushing. 

Looking forward to Ole Miss

The Razorbacks will see a similar quarterback on Saturday in Ole Miss quarterback Austin Simmons who threw for 235 yards and rushed for another 44 in a 30-23 win at Kentucky last weekend. 

“I was nervous about (Raynor), and if we played him again, I'd be nervous about him too,” Pittman said when asked about comparing the two quarterbacks and Rhodes getting a sack on the third play of the game. “He's a good player, but they bottled him up pretty good. We hit him early, and that seems to make a difference if you can get home early.

"I was really pleased that Quincy — I think he just won a one-on-one battle. He was over the right guard — I believe — on that play. (He) won a one-on-one battle and got him on the ground. And like I say, he was elusive and got away from some sacks last week, but we were fortunate enough to get him on the ground.”

Rhodes said he’s confident defensive line coach Deke Adams will come up with a game plan to help the Razorback defense redeem themselves from giving up 63 points to Ole Miss in Fayetteville last season. 

“I think that was our key focus in a D line room,” Rhodes said. Coach Adams, he holds us responsible as grown men to execute the job, and I feel as if the D line got after (Raynor).

“His scheme and the way he draws up things — we practice things over and over again, and we get different looks from our scout team that gives us edges on what they may do. You know — open plays or open busted plays that might happen to our defense.

“The way that those guys work they fix those things and it'll fix those problems before Saturday gets here.”