Rhodes Highlights Hogs’ Preseason All-SEC Selections

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas senior DL Quincy Rhodes Jr. earned preseason All-SEC recognition from Athlon Sports and Phil Steele as three Hogs garnered recognition ahead of the 2026 season.

Rhodes Jr. earned second-team all-league laurels from Athlon and was a third-team selection by Phil Steele. The 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). The North Little Rock native tallied six tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss, one sack, and a forced fumble against Mississippi State on Nov. 1. He was one of three Power 4 defenders to register 4.5 tackles for loss in a game this season, alongside Stephen Daley of Indiana and Caden Curry of Ohio State. Additionally, his 4.5 tackles for loss were the most in a single game by an Arkansas defender since 2005.

In addition to Rhodes’ selection, OL Kobe Branham was named Fourth-Team Preseason All-SEC by Athlon Sports, and OL Malachi Breland received fourth-team recognition from Phil Steele.

Branham earned SEC All-Freshman honors a year ago after appearing in all 12 games while making 11 starts during his redshirt freshman campaign in 2025.  The Fort Smith, Ark., product was part of an Arkansas offensive line that blocked for 5,102 yards of total offense and paved the way for six games of 500+ yards of total offense during the 2025 season. Additionally, Branham and the Hogs allowed 29 sacks, which was the fewest by an Arkansas team since 2019 (19 sacks). He played a big role in blocking for Mike Washington Jr., who rushed for 1,070 total yards, becoming the Razorbacks’ first 1,000-yard rusher since Raheim “Rocket” Sanders in 2022.

Breland arrives in Fayetteville after spending the 2023-2025 seasons at Memphis, where he appeared in a total of 24 games while making 19 starts at left guard. As a redshirt sophomore in 2025, Breland started all 12 games while helping pave the way for a Memphis offense that averaged 420.7 yards per game and 34.6 points per game. Behind Breland’s blocking, the Tigers averaged 186.1 yards rushing per game, including 77 runs of 10+ yards. The Laurel, Miss., native posted a 79.6 pass blocking grade according to PFF after allowing just one sack in 454 opportunities.

Arkansas opens the season under first-year head coach Ryan Silverfield in Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium against North Alabama on Sept. 5 at 3:15 p.m. on SEC Network. Season tickets are on sale now for as low as $45 per game. To see available seating inventory online, click here, or call the Razorback Ticket Center at 479.575.5151.