His time to shine

FAYETTEVILLE — Chris Gragg caught a crossing route off his shoe tops from Tyler Wilson and turned it into an 11-yard gain to the Vanderbilt 4 to set up Arkansas’ first touchdown Saturday.

That type of contribution has become the norm for Gragg, a junior tight end who has emerged as a top target for the Razorbacks through the middle of the season.

Only Jarius Wright, a fellow Warren product, and Joe Adams have more receptions than Gragg, who has made critical catches during Arkansas’ four game winning streak.

Gragg had four catches that converted first downs in Saturday’s 31-28 victory, reminding the Arkansas coaches of his decorated predecessor, D.J. Williams, who won the Mackey Award last season as the nation’s top tight end.

“We have great confidence that he’ll convert third downs for us,” Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino said. “We’re starting to get back and do some of the things we did with D.J., which helps a lot.” Gragg said he learned plenty from Williams and has now earned his way into game plans.

“Knowing that I’m going out there and I’m the guy, it helps me focus,” Gragg said.

Gragg had a career-high five catches against Vanderbilt, bringing his season total to 25, good for third on the team.

“I’m more comfortable with the game plan,” Gragg said. “I’m knowing what I’m doing more at tight end now, so that helps me play faster and more loose and I just go out and play football.”

Wilson found Gragg three times in the third quarter against the Commodores, once on a drive that reached the Vanderbilt 24 before Dennis Johnson fumbled and twice for 20 yards on a series that resulted in Zach Hocker’s 50-yard field goal.

“He played great,” Wilson said. “He caught some read routes, some balls across the middle. The naked game, play-action and roll-out, he made some good plays.”

Gragg has grown as a blocker, and perhaps his greatest strength is outrunning linebackers in man coverage.

“We couldn’t ask for much more from a guy like that, especially blocking-wise,” Wright said. “He can get mismatches on linebackers, as he did last week. You saw him running open ... just a great mismatch.”

Since Gragg dropped a third-down pass on the sideline in the third quarter against Texas A&M, seven of his 11 receptions have gained first downs.

“He’s one of our main weapons,” Arkansas offensive coordinator Garrick McGee said. “We’re at the point, you know, where we know exactly who our main guys are.

“Chris has always been a tremendous athlete - long and fast and he understands what we’re doing.”

Perhaps Gragg’s greatest contribution on the season was his 19-yard catch over the middle on a fourth-and-7 on Arkansas’ first series of the second half at Ole Miss, with the Hogs trailing 17-7. That play resulted in a field goal that put the Razorbacks within striking distance.

“He does a great job for us in the run game and the pass game,” Arkansas guard Grant Cook said. “D.J. was a great tight end, and now Chris is getting his time to shine.”