Arkansas football received an immediate jolt of stability and optimism on Ryan Silverfield’s first official day as head coach. On Thursday, two of the program’s most important young stars, redshirt freshman Quarterback KJ Jackson and breakout edge rusher Quincy Rhodes Jr., stood alongside their teammates and announced they will return for the 2026 season.
In an era where new coaching hires often spark roster uncertainty and transfer portal exits, the Razorbacks instead got the opposite: two foundational talents publicly committing to stay. For a team entering a transition phase, Jackson and Rhodes choosing to remain is a major statement about Silverfield’s early impact.