Arkansas will have to move forward without one of its most versatile veterans this fall.
Redshirt junior tight end Maddox Lassiter is out for the 2026 season after suffering an undisclosed injury that required surgery, Ryan Silverfield said after the Razorbacks’ first scrimmage. Silverfield didn’t hide how much Lassiter meant to the plan before the setback.
“Maddox Lassiter, unfortunately, is out for the season," Silverfield said during his Sunday press conference. "He has been absolutely phenomenal.
We actually though he was going to have a very significant role for us at an extremely high level. He’s a tough young man that got hurt during practice.”
Lassiter’s path has been anything but ordinary. The 6-foot-3, 248-pound Arkansas player signed as a former preferred walk-on in the 2023 class and has spent his college career moving all over the formation. He has lined up as a blocking tight end, H-Back, fullback and is now listed primarily at tight end.
He’s been a steady presence in the Razorbacks’ two-deep over the last couple of seasons, with two starts in 25 career appearances. His role on offense kept growing, but a lot of his work still came on special teams.
The stat line won’t jump off the page - five total tackles on special teams last season and one catch for three yards - but Lassiter’s value showed up in the dirty work. That made him a fan favorite out of Warren.
Arkansas also held out Memphis transfer running back Sutton Smith from Sunday’s scrimmage because of a lower leg injury, though Silverfield said there’s no concern about his status for the opener.
“I’ve been holding Sutton Smith (out) with communication with the doctors and our medical staff," Silverfield said. "He has a lower leg injury, but I have no doubts in my mind that he’ll be full go (for the season opener).”
Smith was a major part of Memphis’ offense last season, piling up 1,058 yards and eight total touchdowns in 2025. He also missed most of the 2024 season after tearing his ACL against North Alabama.
Silverfield’s decision to keep Smith out of the scrimmage looks more like caution than alarm, with the goal of making sure he’s ready when the season begins.
The Razorbacks also previously said punter Connor Smith and JUCO defensive end J’Lynn Allen, originally from North Little Rock, will be out for the season.
Arkansas opens the 2026 season at CommunityAmerica Razorback Stadium on Sept. 5 at 3:15 p.m. CT, with the game set for national television on the SEC Network.
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