Kitler, Rhodes Jr., Smith, set to join Silverfield at SEC Media Days

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Talking Season kicks off for the Southeastern Conference on Monday, July 20, at SEC Media Days at the JW Marriott in Tampa, Fla., with the Arkansas Razorbacks taking their turn on Thursday, July 23, as offensive lineman Caden Kitler, defensive lineman Qunicy Rhodes Jr. and running back Sutton Smith accompany first-year head coach Ryan Silverfield.

Rhodes Jr. enters the 2026 season as one of the top defensive linemen in the SEC, earning preseason all-league praise from Athlon Sports and Phil Steele. The North Little Rock, Ark., native is coming off a breakout junior season in 2025, tallying 44 total tackles with a team-leading 15.5 tackles for loss in addition to eight sacks, six quarterback hurries and a forced fumble. His 15.5 tackles for loss were the most by an Arkansas defender since Trey Flowers (15.5 TFL) in 2015. He also became the first Hog to register double-digit tackles in a season since Landon Jackson (13.5 TFL) in 2023 and was the first Razorback to record three multi-sack games in a season since Tre Williams in 2021. Rhodes finished the regular season ranking 13th nationally and second in the SEC in tackles for loss per game (1.23) and 23rd nationally in sacks per game (0.67). He tallied six tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss, one sack, and a forced fumble against Mississippi State on Nov. 1 and was one of three Power 4 defenders to register 4.5 tackles for loss in a game last season. Additionally, his 4.5 tackles for loss were the most in a single game by an Arkansas defender since 2005.

Kitler returns for his redshirt senior season after starting all 11 games he saw action in a year ago on the Razorbacks’ offensive line. The Colony, Texas native helped pave the way for six games of 500+ yards of total offense. Behind Kitler’s blocking, Arkansas saw a 119-yard improvement in total rushing yards, highlighted by senior running back Mike Washington Jr. becoming the first 1,000-yard rusher in a season for Arkansas since Raheim “Rocket” Sanders (1,443 yards) in 2022. Kitler and the Hogs allowed 29 sacks, the fewest by an Arkansas team since 2019 (19 sacks), and had a pair of games without allowing a sack against Arkansas State and Ole Miss, marking the first time since 2015 that Arkansas had not allowed a sack in consecutive games.

Smith arrives in Fayetteville after spending the previous four years at Memphis, playing under Silverfield. As a redshirt junior in 2025, Smith appeared in 12 games rushing for 669 yards and seven touchdowns on 102 carries, while adding 20 receptions for 109 yards, 155 yards on five kick returns and 125 yards on 15 punt returns for a total of 1,058 total yards. Smith registered three 100-yard rushing games, highlighted by rushing 12 times for a career-high 147 yards and one touchdown against Arkansas on Sept. 20. Smith’s 64-yard touchdown run with 4:51 left in the game accounted for the game-winning score. Smith also rushed for 113 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries against Troy (Sept. 13) and registered his final 100-yard game of the season by rushing for 109 yards and two TDs on seven carries against East Carolina (Nov. 15). The Powder Springs, Ga., product also had a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown on Oct. 18 at UAB. Smith tied for ninth nationally in rushing plays of 60+ yards with two and is one of just 14 returning FBS running backs with an 80+ yard rush last season.

Silverfield, who will make his debut at SEC Media Days, produced one of the most successful head coaching stints in the country over the last six seasons at Memphis going 50-25, including a pair of 10+ win seasons in 2023 and 2024. The Tigers earned bowl eligibility in all six years with Silverfield at the helm. Memphis posted 29 victories over Silverfield’s final three seasons, leading the Tigers to rank among the nation’s Top 15 programs in wins.

Arkansas opens the season inside Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium against North Alabama on Sept. 5 at 3:15 p.m. on SEC Network. Season and single-game tickets are on sale now. To see available seating inventory online, click here, or call the Razorback Ticket Center at 479.575.5151.