Arkansas edge rusher Quincy Rhodes Jr. announces 2026 NFL Draft decision originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

It’s been a rough few months to be a fan of the Arkansas Razorbacks. But losing in the SEC is a precursor to change, and there is upside in the unknown.

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On Thursday, new head coach Ryan Silverfield introduced himself to the Arkansas faithful. He did so with edge rusher Quincy Rhodes Jr. and quarterback KJ Jackson by his side. As the Razorbacks embark on a new era, the trio was able to offer some good news.

Quincy Rhodes Jr. makes his NFL Draft decision

Most were operating under the assumption that Rhodes, after a successful junior season, had his sights on the NFL. Instead, Rhodes confirmed that he will return for his senior year in Fayetteville.

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“I’m all in for my senior year,” he said, via Reagan Wynn.

Nobody would have blamed Rhodes for leaving. NFL money is life-changing, even in the NIL era of college football. At a physical position, that’s always a part of the equation. He could have spent his summer preparing to compete for a Super Bowl, earning a starting job on an up-and-coming team, if not an established contender.

Meanwhile, the Razorbacks won just two games in 2025. In SEC competition, they went winless.

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Furthermore, Rhodes could not have asked for a better platform season. He finished his year with 44 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, and eight sacks, along with a forced fumble. That kind of production is enticing, and 35 total pressures suggest that he was running hot with an unsustainable sack rate.

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Subsequently, Rhodes had legitimate early-round hype. He was expected to be a top-50 pick with an outside shot at Day 1, hurting both the 2026 class and the SEC tackles tasked with slowing him down next year.

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Perhaps an unusually strong cast of edge rushers played into his decision. The 2026 class offers projected top-10 picks with Rueben Bain Jr. and Arvell Reese. Others, like David Bailey and Keldric Faulk, have shots at the top 15, while T.J. Parker and Cashius Howell have taken different paths to the back half of Round 1.

There’s not a lot of room for Rhodes to sneak in, outside of the right fit late on Day 1 and the board falling favorably. If he feels another season of NIL money opens the door for him to increase his stock, staying in school is a worthy gamble.

Arkansas is returning a versatile defender with a track record of production and multiple ways to make an impact. It’s far too early to count victories, but the Razorbacks look like they’ve found their first win of the 2026 season.

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