For the first time in several years, Arkansas’ football team is entering a season without a clear-cut leader at the tight end position.
From 2008-10, D.J. Williams held that title before capping his career with the Mackey Award, a trophy given to college football’s top tight end. Williams was followed by Warren native Chris Gragg, who is now entering his fifth year in the NFL with the New York Jets.
Little Rock’s own Hunter Henry, Arkansas’ second Mackey winner and current tight end for the L.A. Chargers, was the go-to guy from 2013-15 despite playing alongside two other future pros in A.J. Derby (Denver Broncos) and Jeremy Sprinkle (Washington Redskins).
The Razorbacks aren’t sure who their next great tight end will be in 2017, but they do feel confident in the pool of candidates.
“I like the development of that group,” head coach Bret Bielema said. “[Tight ends coach] Barry Lunney and I had a conversation the other day — a year ago during spring, we had a lot of question marks around guys. That tight end group is six-deep and I think they’ve all got a chance to play.”
Competing for playing time are two juniors in Jack Kraus and JUCO transfer Jeremy Patton, three redshirt sophomores in Cheyenne O’Grady, Austin Cantrell and Will Gragg, and a second-year sophomore in Grayson Gunter.
Cantrell, O’Grady, Patton and Gunter are currently projected as the first four in the rotation.
“We’ve got good depth,” Lunney said. “They all come in different shapes and sizes. We’ve got them. There’s a broad spectrum of what each guy brings to the table.”
Cantrell, who made 13 grabs for 120 yards and two touchdowns last fall, has the experience edge and is the best blocker in the bunch. The Roland (Okla.) native played at 270 pounds last year but has dropped 15 pounds in an effort to improve as a route runner.
“I think he’s getting better,” Lunney said of Cantrell. “He’s moving around and flying around as well as I’ve seen him in some time.”
O’Grady, who had a 28-yard touchdown reception in the Belk Bowl, has freakish athletic ability but needs to be more consistent. “When he decides to show up and be himself, he’s a really good player,” Bielema said. “He’s very talented and has made some steps in the right direction.”
Gunter (6-6, 240), who hauled in a 29-yard grab in Arkansas’ 58-42 win over Mississippi State last November, creates mismatch problems for opposing defenses. Kraus, a veteran from Bentonville, doesn’t have the same physical gifts but is trusted by the staff.
The darkhorse of the bunch is Patton, a former No. 1 JUCO prospect in the nation who transferred in from Arizona Western College this summer. Despite getting a late start by enrolling in July, the 6-5, 250-pounder didn’t need much time to start turning heads in practice.
“Jeremy Patton is a really good football player and learns extremely well,” Bielema said. “I’d say Jeremy, next to Austin (Cantrell), has probably progressed as much as anybody.”
“Jeremy’s done a nice job,” Lunney said. “He’s a football rat. He loves football. To be honest with you, the time he spent at Arizona Western – they run a pro-style offense that’s similar in structure to what we run –that’s really helped him just make the transition quicker. He’s put a lot of effort in it early on and taken advantage of his opportunities. Not perfect, we’ve got a lot to learn in the details, but he gets it. He understands it and he’s a tough kid.”
Will Gragg, a Dumas High graduate, has made his case to move up the depth chart during preseason camp.
“Will Gragg has had an awesome, awesome camp and definitely belongs out there,” Bielema said. “He’s done some good things.”
(Danny West covers Razorback athletics and recruiting in football and basketball for HawgSports.com and is a regular guest on sports talk radio station 103.7 The Buzz in Little Rock.)