Story by
Max Gilbert transfers to Arkansas, will face Tennessee in 2026 season
- Story by
- Max Gilbert transfers to Arkansas, will face Tennessee in 2026 season
Tennessee football placekicker Max Gilbert committed to Arkansas out of the transfer portal , supplanting the Razorbacks' starting kicker and setting up a game against the Vols in 2026.
Gilbert entered the portal after a stressful 2025 season when he made a solid-but-unspectacular 73.7% of his field goals and missed kicks in critical moments, beginning with a potential game-winner against Georgia.
Advertisement
He arrives at Arkansas with two seasons of eligibility remaining and high hopes to restart his career.
Gilbert left Tennessee as one of the most accurate kickers in school history. In two seasons, he made all 118 PAT kicks and 34 of 45 field goals. His 75.6% on field goals is third best in UT history for kickers who have made at least 25 field goals.
But his confidence clearly waned in clutch situations, and it appeared coach Josh Heupel's confidence in him followed suit.
Tennessee is in the market for a new kicker from the portal. For now, it has Josh Turbyville and Grady Dangerfield. Turbyville is an All-SEC kickoff specialist, but he's only 1 of 1 on field goals in his career. Dangerfield played in two games as a kickoff specialist during his 2025 freshman season.
Advertisement
Why did Arkansas replace its starting kicker with Max Gilbert?
New Arkansas coach Ryan Silverfield snatched up Gilbert quickly. On Jan. 2, Gilbert announced he was entering the portal. Reports of him signing with Arkansas surfaced on Jan. 4. Notably, Gilbert attended Lausanne Collegiate School in Memphis, and Silverfield spent the last decade coaching at Memphis.
But it didn't appear that Arkansas needed a new placekicker. Scott Starzyk was on the 2025 SEC All-Freshman team and regarded as one of college football's best young kickers.
But Starzyk announced he was entering the portal a few hours after Arkansas added Gilbert and Georgia State transfer Braedan McAlister, who will likely handle kickoffs.
Advertisement
It's unknown which came first, Arkansas' interest in other kickers or Starzyk's interest in a different situation. In the NIL era, when players routinely renegotiate contracts ahead of the portal, there are many factors behind closed doors.
On paper, the stats of the Starzyk and Gilbert were similar in the 2025 season.
Starzyk made 14 of 18 field goals. Gilbert made 14 of 19 field goals and all 47 PAT kicks. Gilbert made 14 of 19 field goals and all 64 PAT kicks. Starzyk made 5 of 9 field goals from 40 yards and farther. Gilbert made 6 of 9 field goals from that range. They each had a career-long of 53 yards.
The only obvious difference is that Gilbert has more experience. He is a two-year starter who made 20 of 26 field goals as a freshman. Over his career, Gilbert has been almost automatic on short and intermediate kicks, making 21 of 24 (87.5%) from under 40 yards.
Advertisement
When Max Gilbert will kick against Tennessee football
Arkansas will host Tennessee on Oct. 10. And considering the recent portal moves, Gilbert should be the Razorbacks' kicker in that game.
It could be an awkward situation for Gilbert and the Vols.
Gilbert was a well-liked player on the team and among much of the fan base, at least before he started missing impactful kicks. Twice he got free cookies for UT fans by making 50-yard field goals against Arkansas and ETSU as part of his NIL deal with Moonshine Mountain Cookie Co.
But by the end of his sophomore season, UT fans had turned on Gilbert. Many blamed him for disappointing losses.
Advertisement
Gilbert missed the potential game-winner at the end of regulation in a 44-41 overtime loss to Georgia. Against Oklahoma, he made 2 of 3 field goals, but his miss carried weight in a 33-27 loss opposite Sooners kicker Tate Sandell, who made 4 of 4. And Gilbert made 2 of 3 field goals in a 41-34 overtime win over Mississippi State, where his lone miss couldn't been pivotal.
Tennessee could be confident in its ability to rattle Gilbert in a close game against Arkansas. Gilbert also could be motivated to kick well against the Vols. It'll be an interesting storyline in their October matchup.
Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com . X, formerly known as Twitter @AdamSparks . Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe .
Get the latest news and insight on SEC football by subscribing to the SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Max Gilbert transfers to Arkansas, will face Tennessee in 2026 season
