NFL
By: Randall Slifer
Arkansas Razorbacks are gearing up for their opener against Alabama A&M this month, and practices have been in full swing. The offseason had some serious question marks, but there have been some shining lights throughout the summer. Arkansas Football may have the deepest roster Sam Pittman has had, but getting to 8-4 this year will still be a challenge. Let’s take a look at some standout topics during these fall practices:
Quincy Rhodes Jr looks good.
Quincy Rhodes Jr has gotten a lot of hype from his teammates coming into his Junior year. This will be Rhodes’s first starting year, having made an impact in his Sophomore year. He registered one sack and one QB hit on nine pressures, while also excelling in defending the run. Rhodes was credited with seven defense stops in 2024 and a missed tackle rate of 0%. At 6’6 276 pounds, Quincy Rhodes Jr is stepping into the starting defensive end position after Buffalo drafted Landon Jackson in the 3rd round of the 2025 NFL draft.
His teammates want to ensure Rhodes doesn’t take on Landon Jackson’s role, but instead, he’s stepping into Quincy Rhodes’ starting role. Now, it is hard not to acknowledge that Landon and Quincy hold some similarities. They are similar in size, and they both excel as a compression pass rusher. One thing I noticed about Quincy Rhodes’ game that I enjoyed more than Landon Jackson’s is his hand fighting and his ability in the interior. Rhodes excels at keeping offensive linemen off his jersey to lock on, and can hand fight while pushing back to keep his pass rush alive at all costs. After a lineman takes a couple of steps back, he can close and attack the quarterback. Rhodes needs to work on his pass-rush plan coming from outside the tackle, but camp has looked good for him coming into his first year starting for the Razorbacks.
Defensive Backs are plentiful.
Sam Pittman may have a tough time deciding the defensive back depth chart in the next couple of weeks. He did well in the portal, acquiring defensive backs like Jordan Young (Cincinatti), Julian Neal (Fresno State), Caleb Wooden (Auburn), and Shakur Smalls (Maine). Jaheim Singletary, a redshirt junior, is returning after having an average past two years at Arkansas, but improving on his 2023 season. Selmon Bridges has been a highlight of the offseason for the defensive back room. Sam Pittman said he is in the best shape of his life, and the whole team has noticed him. Bridges could earn a starting role with his physical stature, as he was the nation’s 10th-ranked cornerback coming out for the 2024 class.
Larry Worth III is back for a second year, and Arkansas is excited to see what he brings to another year in the SEC. Worth, at 6’4 225 and has played almost every position on a football field, it will be interesting to see what starting role they fit him into this defense. Worth’s coverage ability is average at best, but he is a menace in defending the run, and he’s a great tackler. Worth had 54 total tackles with a missed tackle rate of 7% and accounted for 15 defensive stops in 2024. At Jacksonville State, he accounted for 16 pressures with five sacks and five quarterback hits on 30 pass rush attempts.
Arkansas only allowed him to rush the passer 5 times last season, but still managed to get a sack. Pittman has said he has versatility as a nickel defender and as a safety, but I would rather throw him in the strong safety role. Caleb Wooden or Miguel Mitchell can take the free safety position, and allow Larry Worth to use his frame at the line of scrimmage and disguise blitzes to get to the quarterback quickly. Jordan Young should take the nickel as he has the speed, tackling, and coverage ability to play the nickel better than Worth. Pittman acknowledges this is a good problem to have for the Arkansas Razorbacks, but players will need to start getting ready for their designated spot come August 30th.
Is the pass-catching room better than anticipated?
The most significant question mark entering this season was the wide receiver room. Arkansas lost a lot of big pieces to the Arkansas Razorback pass-catching room during the off-season. Notably, wide receiver Dazmin James and tight end Luke Hasz transferred out to different schools. The top two wide receivers in the 2024 season, Andrew Armstrong and Isaac Teslaa, are now on NFL teams starting their rookie year. Pittman had to do some digging in the portal to build his pass-catching rooms, but I think the light is shining brighter and brighter as week one approaches. Tight End Rohan Jones has been a standout player during practices, and his adjustment to the SEC seems to be positive.
Jones acknowledged the transition and bulked up nine pounds to be able to be physical with the SEC, and Pittman has praised Jones for his practices. Arkansas Razorbacks knew they would need the wide receivers in the portal to come in and produce immediately. They had an unfortunate injury with Ismael Cisse out for the year. Pittman expects O’Mega Blake to step into an immediate role, coming from South Carolina and Charlotte, and Raylen Sharpe should be a slot receiver able to be a security blanket on short passes for Taylen Green.
The big shining light is the emergence of true freshman, Antonio Jordan. At 6’6 230 pounds, Jordan is a three-star prospect that some say deserves a five-star. Jordan, from Warren, Arkansas, has produced other notable wide receivers, including Chris Gragg, Greg Childs, Jarius Wright, and Treylon Burks. Pittman has stated he can run over 20mph on the GPS, and his catch radius is outstanding. I believe Pittman learned from losing Dazmin James by not playing a rookie, even though the talent was there, and Jordan will come out fast and furious for this Arkansas Razorback’s offense.
Next week, I will break down some concerning factors for the Arkansas Razorbacks entering week one. In the meantime, what have you noticed about our fall practices in full gear? Reach out to me on X/Twitter @RandallSlifer or comment here. Woo Pig!
