HOG FUTURES GRAYSON GUNTER

Next in line: Success of UA tight ends attracted Gunter

Madison Central's Grayson Gunter (5) is tackled by Warren Central defender Byron Galvin on Friday, Oct. 9, 2015, at Madison Central High School in Madison, Miss.
Madison Central's Grayson Gunter (5) is tackled by Warren Central defender Byron Galvin on Friday, Oct. 9, 2015, at Madison Central High School in Madison, Miss.

The recent string of success for Arkansas tight ends -- with the Razorbacks and in the NFL -- is not lost on Grayson Gunter.

"It's a very attractive place for tight ends," said Gunter, an incoming UA freshman from Madison Central (Miss.) High School.

Grayson Gunter at a glance

POSITION Tight end

HIGH SCHOOL Madison Central (Miss.)

HT/WT 6-6, 233

NOTEWORTHY Three-star recruit by ESPN, Rivals and Scout. … No. 34 tight end in the Class of 2016 by ESPN. … Caught 27 passes for 406 yards and 5 touchdowns in 8 games in 2015. … Also played basketball at Madison Central, leading the school to the Mississippi Class 6A state championship game in his junior and senior seasons. … Chose Arkansas over Mississippi State and Tulane, among others.

The Razorbacks had the nation's most-acclaimed tight end in 2015 with Little Rock's Hunter Henry, who is preparing for his rookie season as a second-round draft pick of the San Diego Chargers.

Before Henry, there was Chris Gragg -- who is preparing for his fourth season with the Buffalo Bills -- and D.J. Williams -- who spent time with five NFL teams after winning the John Mackey Award in 2010, the same honor Henry received in 2015.

"They've had successful tight ends," Gunter said. "You had Hunter getting drafted. He was a great tight end."

Gunter, 6-6, 233 pounds, caught 27 passes for 406 yards and 5 touchdowns in 8 games last season, leading Madison Central to a 9-6 record and the Mississippi Class 6A semifinals under first-year coach Brad Peterson.

Peterson, now a director of player personnel at Mississippi State, could not be reached for comment by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette after multiple interview requests to the school's media relations department.

ESPN, Rivals and Scout rated Gunter as a three-star recruit. ESPN ranked Gunter as the No. 34 tight end in the Class of 2016.

Gunter was the lone tight end in the Razorbacks' recruiting class, something he appreciated.

He committed to Arkansas in June 2015 but had to wait more than seven months until he could sign his national letter of intent.

"They're putting all the trust in you," Gunter said. "They're saying you're the guy for the class. It comes with a lot of responsibility."

Gunter said his father, Bubba, told him to be patient during the recruiting process.

"You'll know when it's the right time to commit," said Gunter, recalling his father's advice. "He was a big fan of Arkansas. My family decided that it was a place where I could succeed."

Gunter has been on the Arkansas campus since late May and has been working out with the other Razorbacks preparing for the 2016 season. He said that while he considers himself a receiving tight end, he wants to be an all-around player.

"I'm trying to get stronger and learn the blocking game," Gunter said. "In high school, I was more of a slot receiver who caught a lot of passes. I'm trying to get my game more well-rounded."

Gunter was one of 10 tight ends listed on the Arkansas roster as of July 1. Senior Jeremy Sprinkle is expected to start.

The depth at tight end is not surprising for Gunter, noting the emergence of players such as Rob Gronkowski, Travis Kelce and Jimmy Graham at that position in the NFL.

"The tight end game is being reinvented these days," Gunter said. "At Arkansas, they like to use the traditional tight ends. But sometimes, you can make plays."

Gunter's father played at Mississippi in 1989-1991, before Arkansas entered the conference. Bubba Gunter told Grayson that he will have to put in a lot of hard work and dedication to play in the SEC.

"It's something you have to love to do," Grayson Gunter said. "If you don't love it, it won't be fun to do."

Gunter's father has turned his allegiance to Arkansas.

"He's really supportive of me," Gunter said. "But I think there will be a little rivalry."

Gunter also was offered by Mississippi State and had interest from Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Louisiana Tech and Tulane, among others.

But playing at Arkansas in the SEC is something Gunter said he wanted, and he said he's looking forward to the challenge over the next four to five years.

"Playing high school football in Mississippi is as close to getting to the SEC as you can get," Gunter said. "You play against guys who have multiple offers and go compete at the next level."

Sports on 07/09/2016

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