FAYETTEVILLE — While there are a few vets returning in the Arkansas receiving corps, there are some new wideouts poised to make a name for themselves this year.
That includes senior Gary Cross (6-1, 188 pounds), sophomore Tobias Enlow (6-2, 207), Kansas graduate transfer Chase Harrell (6-4, 215), redshirt freshman Koilan Jackson (6-2, 211), true freshman Michael Woods (6-1, 188) and junior college transfer Jimmie Stoudemire (6-2, 205).
During the early part of practice on Wednesday, Cross and Enlow were working with the first team, Enlow's opportunity coming because La'Michael Pettway continues to nurse a groin injury.
“After I went down and didn’t practice, Tobias stepped up and made a lot of plays and as y’all seen, it paid off for him in the scrimmage (last Saturday),” Pettway said. “He stepped up and Gary stepped up and when their number is called they both perform.”
Cross only played one year of high school football at Fordyce, but flourished that season and was named to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Super Team.
In high school he caught 27 passes for 604 yards and 9 touchdowns, and on defense recorded 52 tackles, 4 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries and 3 interceptions, 2 of which were returned for touchdowns.
At Hutchinson, Kan., Community College where he had 56 catches for 1,112 yards and 15 touchdowns while averaging 20.2 yards per catch in two years at the school.
“I went the JUCO route, and at first I didn’t know I was going to come here,” Cross said. “At first I had messed up in class, so they stopped looking at me because they didn’t know I was going to graduate with a 2.0 (GPA). Then when they found out I graduated with a 2.5, that’s when they contacted me and I came here.”
Cross made the move to Arkansas as a walk on in 2017 and played 21 snaps last season with one catch.
Now 23 years old, he appears to be in line for significant snaps this season at the "2" spot, otherwise known as a flanker.
“It’s been feeling good,” Cross said. “I really got into my playbook, learned what the offense is doing. I’ve been playing fast and coach has seen it. That’s how I’ve been running with the ones.”
Cross is impressed with what he has seen from Enlow, a former North Little Rock player who had 16 catches for 185 yards and 2 touchdowns as a junior before missing his senior season due to an ACL injury suffered in the preseason.
Enlow, who, like Cross, arrived as a walk-on, redshirted his true freshman season and didn’t get into a game his redshirt freshman campaign.
“He’s been making plays on the field and really been in his playbook,” Cross said. “When people get banged up or something, then that’s the guy that’s got to step up, then the next guy has to step up and make plays. We’re really looking for who can make the plays, going out there making plays, being consistent, and that’s who we’re going to play.”
Arkansas quarterback Cole Kelley likes what he has seen out of Cross.
“I mean, Gary Cross is a freak athlete, man,” Kelley said. “ His testing numbers are like something I’ve never really seen. And now he’s starting to put it together with how he plays. He’s having a great camp right now.”
Kelley is excited about his entire receiving group.
“La’Michael Pettway is a beast,” Kelley said. “ Mike Woods is doing good things. Now we’ve got Chase Harrell who’s doing good things. De’Vion Warren, Jared Cornelius, Jonathan Nance, Jordan Jones is doing good. Deon Stewart has been hurt, but he was doing good things. Gary Cross has come along a lot. I mean, I could keep going all day, but…our wide receivers, man, they’re special.”
Pettway complimented Jackson and Stoudemire. Pettway and Stoudemire both were born in Alabama.
“Koilan is looking really good; really fast,” Pettway said. “He has speed and transition is looking really good. (Stoudemire) is actually an Alabama native, too. He’s picking up the offense just as well as all of us.”
Cross is thought to be one of the fastest guy on the team and noted he raced Jordan Jones recently.
“Well me and Jordan raced the other day,” Cross said. “I beat him by just a step.”
He and Warren are slated to be the deep guys on kickoff returns this season and will have chances to make a big play.
“It depends if we get the right blocks and the right people get on their blocks. We can be really dangerous.”