Hog Calls

Razorbacks fully stocked at tight end

Arkansas tight ends coach Barry Lunney Jr. directs his players during practice Saturday, Aug. 16, 2014, at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.
Arkansas tight ends coach Barry Lunney Jr. directs his players during practice Saturday, Aug. 16, 2014, at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Of the Arkansas Razorbacks' seven non-coordinators among nine full-time assistant football coaches, only tight ends coach Barry Lunney coaches one position.

Yet Lunney coaches nearly as many players at his one position as most of his comrades who coach multiple positions.

It seems like Coach Bret Bielema collects tight ends like Scrooge collected cash.

Unlike Scrooge, Bielema doesn't just miserly collect. He spends.

Because even if not used as often as conventional tight ends, those recruited to play the most versatile position along the offensive line generally have the size and skills to fill a variety of roles -- on special teams, in two-tight-end sets, as fullbacks or H-backs, or on the other side of the ball as defensive ends or linebackers.

J.J. Watt, who transferred in 2008 from Central Michigan to Bielema's Wisconsin Badgers, was a walk-on tight end. Now Watt is regarded as the NFL's best defensive player as a defensive end for the Houston Texans.

So Bielema figures he never has enough tight ends, even with enough to field a baseball team.

"We've got nine here and seven on scholarship," Lunney said.

Walk-on third-year sophomore special teams letterman Anthony Antwine was converted to tight end last spring with more than walk-on fanfare.

"We have got Anthony Antwine moved from wideout to tight end, which was a really good move for him," Lunney said. "He's got some ability, he really does, and he really has handled the transition well."

"Stand in Line Antwine" might seem like his tight end nickname, given the return of Mackey Award watch list preseason All-American junior Hunter Henry and gifted junior Jeremy Sprinkle, senior three-year letterman Alex Voelzke and freshman Jack Kraus of Bentonville -- redshirted last season -- all primed to play, plus heralded true freshmen Will Gragg of Dumas, C.J. O' Grady of Fayetteville and Austin Cantrell of Roland, Okla.

Lunney says all will fit somewhere sometime.

"We would like to think they all can play," Lunney said. "They all have a different skill set. We just have to see how that pans out."

Touted though they are, and Bielema touted them all again Sunday during media day, it would seem one or maybe even all three among Cantrell, Gragg and O'Grady could redshirt like Kraus did last year.

Perhaps, but Bielema extols all incoming freshmen to attack the preseason like they will play.

"There's a lot to be seen in the next couple of weeks," Lunney said. "After two scrimmages we will probably have a better idea."

Lunney still cringes over what he asked immediately of Henry as a true freshman in 2013 with senior starter Austin Tate injured before the season opener.

"Austin Tate got hurt two years ago and we were playing Hunter and Mitch Loewen [a walk-on who is now at defensive end] and had to piecemeal it," Lunney said. "So we are at a good spot now."

And deep enough to cover from catcher through the outfield.

Sports on 08/12/2015

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