VIDEO: How Arkansas football QB Taylen Green is developing chemistry with new receivers
Arkansas football QB Taylen Green will need to develop chemistry with multiple new receivers during spring football, which begins March 10.
- Arkansas football starts its season at home against Alabama A&M on Aug. 30.
- Quincy Rhodes is expected to fill the starting defensive end role vacated by Landon Jackson.
- The Razorbacks are looking for a fourth defensive tackle to solidify their rotation.
FAYETTEVILLE — There are seven weeks remaining until the return of Arkansas football.
All eyes are on the Razorbacks’ season-opener against Alabama A&M. Kickoff is set for 3:15 p.m. (SEC Network) on Saturday, Aug. 30, inside Razorback Stadium.
The Hogs are coming off a 7-6 campaign that exceeded preseason expectations yet fell short of the team’s ceiling. The task for Sam Pittman and his coaching staff is to improve upon that record after a rash of transfer departures against a tougher schedule.
Over the next month, the Southwest Times Record will run positional previews twice a week, asking two questions and providing one bold prediction. These will lead into SEC Media Days, with the Razorbacks scheduled to appear on July 17 in Atlanta.
We’ve already covered the offense and now will shift focus to the other side of the ball. Here’s a look at the defensive line entering 2025.
Can Quincy Rhodes fill the void left by Landon Jackson?
Entering spring football, Pittman said Quincy Rhodes needed to “pop.” The defensive end responded with a strong month that turned him into an unquestioned starter.
The North Little Rock native is replacing Jackson, who Pro Football Focus graded as Arkansas‘ best player in 2024. The Buffalo Bills selected Jackson in the third round after he posted 6.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss.
Rhodes has just one sack and two tackles for loss in his two-year career. The Razorbacks need Rhodes to go from first-year starter to impact star. The lack of production and experience from the other defensive ends adds pressure for Rhodes.
There are reasons for optimism, starting with his 6-foot-6 and 276-pound frame that compliments speed and a terrific jump off the line of scrimmage. Rhodes had three quarterback hurries in 49 snaps during the 2024 Liberty Bowl. That rate of 6.1% roughly doubles Jackson’s 2024 season rate of 3.1%.
Who is the fourth defensive tackle?
Cam Ball, Danny Saili and Ian Geffrard will be the top three, but Arkansas needs one more defensive tackle to demand snaps through strong playing time in 2025.
The most likely candidates to enter the rotation are transfers David Oke and Frank Mulipola. That duo combined for 114 tackles and 18 tackles for loss last year at Abilene Christian and UT Permian Basin. Are they ready for the bright lights of the SEC?
The coaches also hold freshmen Kevin Oatis and Caleb Bell in high regard after they had solid springs. Another freshman, Reginald Vaughn, was one of the top recruits of the 2025 class and enrolled this summer.
One bold prediction: Phillip Lee is the Razorbacks’ best spring portal addition
Lee transferred to Arkansas after four years at Troy. He is a redshirt senior with 54 career tackles and 7.5 sacks. Five of those sacks came in 2024.
Arkansas will use plenty of three-man fronts, but Lee has a great chance to be the second starting defensive end when the Hogs use four defensive linemen. His top competitors are second-year players Charlie Collins and Kavion Henderson, along with transfers Justus Boone and Ken Talley.
That group has just 3.5 sacks combined in their collegiate careers. The spot opposite Rhodes is wide open, and look for Lee to capitalize.
Jackson Fuller covers Arkansas football, basketball and baseball for the Southwest Times Record, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at jfuller@gannett.com or follow him @jacksonfuller16 on X, formerly known as Twitter.
