FAYETTEVILLE -- Late last season, the Arkansas Razorbacks had three healthy tight ends to fit in game plans that included a number of sets featuring three tight ends.
That no-margin-for-injury approach should be gone for good after a recruiting bounty brought in what was rated as the nation's No. 1 class of tight ends.
Position glance
TIGHT ENDS
RETURNING STARTER Hunter Henry
LOSSES AJ Derby
WHO’S BACK Jeremy Sprinkle, Alex Voelzke, Jack Kraus
WHO’S NEW Austin Cantrell, Will Gragg, C.J. O’Grady
WALK-ONS Anthony Antwine, Howie Stettmeier
ANALYSIS A year after running dangerously low at this position, the Razorbacks added the nation’s No. 1 tight end recruiting class to the high-quality veterans remaining on the roster to bump the numbers up to acceptable standards. Henry has proven credentials from two seasons in the SEC spotlight. The Mackey Award watch list member must improve his in-line and in-space blocking to round out his game, which already features excellent route running and pass-catching skills. Sprinkle has the tools to emerge as a big-time talent, and the former walk-on Voelzke is a proven contributor. Kraus has been getting good looks in camp. How the newcomers slot in at not only tight end but also the F-back and split out roles will be worth watching. The coaching staff loves the versatility at the position.
Established standout Hunter Henry and veterans Jeremy Sprinkle and Alex Voelzke have been bolstered by the addition of true freshmen Will Gragg, C.J. O'Grady and Austin Cantrell. Toss in redshirt freshman Jack Kraus and walk-ons Anthony Antwine and Howie Stettmeier and the Razorbacks are suddenly deep at a position that has proved integral in Coach Bret Bielema's offenses.
"It's been awesome and so, so nice to have depth," said Henry, the group's leader, a preseason first-team All-American by Athlon Sports, and a member of the preseason watch list for the Mackey Award.
Tight ends coach Barry Lunney Jr. said the Razorbacks have been thin at the position for the past couple of years.
"We went to Missouri last year, last game of the year, and we had a game plan that probably included 10 to 15 potential three-tight-end-set plays and we traveled three tight ends," Lunney said. "That gives you some indication about how thin we were."
The tight end in the current Arkansas offense must fill a variety of roles for first-year offensive coordinator Dan Enos, who said he's had nine tight ends at his disposal.
"They're very versatile," Enos said. "They're guys that can play as a wideout. They can play as a fullback. They can play on the line. Those guys are a bonus on special teams. There are lot of roles that they can fill with those body types.
"I think it's great we can collect as many of those guys as we can."
The Arkansas offense has been known to deploy two or three tight ends for tightly packed short-yardage plays. They can line up in the slot with their hand off the ground or even split wide as Henry did frequently during his high school days at Pulaski Academy. Or they can line up at the traditional fullback spot or in the F-back position, a kind of moving blocking back role.
"They're all so different," Lunney said.
Henry, who leads all active SEC tight ends with 65 career catches, is the every-down player in the unit, although his blocking could stand an upgrade. Sprinkle, like the 6-5, 253-pound Henry, has the ideal size for the position at 6-6, 255 pounds.
The departure of converted quarterback AJ Derby, who ranked third on the 2014 team with 22 catches for 303 yards, has created more opportunity for Sprinkle, who has 11 career receptions for 152 yards, and Voelzke.
"I just focused on adding a little more weight and gaining strength to be able to run block much better than I did last year," said Sprinkle, who had a team-high nine special teams tackles last season. "I had to sit behind Derby last year, learn things from him and everything. I'm ready to step into that role."
Coach Bret Bielema noted the tight ends were not often featured as primary pass catchers in last Saturday's scrimmage because the coaching staff has a good idea what they can do and because quarterback Brandon Allen needed to work more with the team's large array of younger receivers.
Tight ends combined for six catches for 36 yards in the scrimmage. The top group of Henry, Sprinkle and Voelzke had only two catches for 8 yards, both by Henry.
"We're making plays in practice," Henry said. "Brandon knows the trust he has with us, and also I think Coach Enos and Coach Lunney and all the coaches have that trust. I think we've become pretty reliable. I'm not too worried. I know when game planning comes, hopefully we'll be in the mix."
Bielema was enthusiastic about adding the three freshmen to bolster the unit.
"They're a really neat group, all three different cats from different worlds," Bielema said. "I think those three guys are all going to be really good players for us."
Gragg, whose brother Chris was a top Arkansas tight end from 2008-12, said the depth at that position makes each repetition important.
"The coaches do a great job of scripting it out and making sure everybody gets their reps," he said. "The thing they challenge us the most on is getting the best out of our reps. If we mess up on one play, we have got to get it back the next because the reps are limited."
Lunney said he hopes not to return to the critically low levels of tight ends Arkansas faced last season when Derby was out with a knee injury.
"Have we gone from one extreme to the other? I don't think so," Lunney said. "I think you're operating with seven scholarship tight ends, and Antwine has moved over from wide receiver. So I think we're hovering kind of about where we want to be.
"What's good about it during a hot camp like this is with a lot of reps and a lot of plays, it's good to help spread that out a little bit. In the past couple of years that hasn't been the case. We've really taxed those guys at times."
The Razorbacks hope those taxes won't come due again any time soon.
Sports on 08/20/2015