The Arkansas coaching staff, use of his position and the opportunity to play beyond college helped secure an early commitment from tight end Austin Cantrell.
Cantrell, 6-3 1/2, 245, 4.58 seconds in the 40 yard dash, of Roland, Oklahoma pledged to the Hogs in March and has never wavered. Coach Bret Bielema’s track record of putting tight ends into the NFL was attractive.
“Yeah, it helped a lot,” Cantrell said. “So you want to go play for the best guy to do it and can do it. He’s proved he can put guys there. So I just hope I get up there and work hard enough and get it done.”
As a junior, Cantrell was a jack-of-all-trades for the Rangers. He played tailback along with quarterback in the Wildcat formation during goal-line situations in addition to tight end.
He recorded 9 receptions for 268 yards, an average of 29.7 yards per catch, and 2 touchdowns while rushing 41 times for 334 yards and 9 touchdowns.
“I’m playing a lot more tight end,” said Cantrell of his senior season. “But the way we use our tight end it’s kind of like an H-back. I think on defense, I’m going to be moved around from D-end to middle linebacker.”
Cantrell, who benched press 325 pounds and had a 410 squat in June, has excellent speed and has recorded a electronic time of 11.2 seconds in the 100 meters in the spring and also anchoring his school's 4x100 relay.
Defensively, he had 67 tackles, 24 tackles for loss and about 10 sacks at defensive end last year. He’s embraced the move to linebacker.
“I like it,” said Cantrell, who expects to play in the 255 to 260 range at Arkansas. “I’m starting to learn the reads and everything and really getting the hang of it.”
Regardless of the rankings of recruiting services, Cantrell is among the best, if not the best of the Hogs' 12 commitments for the 2015 class.
While at Arkansas’ camp in June, Cantrell wowed observers with his athleticism while showing the speed and quickness usually exhibited by much smaller wide receivers. He picked up several tips from tight ends coach Barry Lunney Jr. during the camp.
“I learned a lot,” Cantrell said. “We did a lot of blocking and Coach Lunney really taught me a lot. I’ve been using it in practice and it’s really helped me.”
Since his commitment, Cantrell, who also has an offer from Oklahoma, has gotten to know one of his future teammates, quarterback Ty Storey of Charleston.
“He’s one of the best,” Cantrell said. “I think he’s really good. I can’t wait to get up there with him and do some work.”
Not afraid of hard work, Cantrell worked out at his school and did extra work on his own.
“I pulled tires, ran bleachers,” he said. “Just a ton of workouts on my own with my buddy Brady, he’s one of our linebacker. He works out wit me a lot.”