Tight ends show off for Hogs

FAYETTEVILLE — Tight end Jeremy Patton could not report to the University of Arkansas or participate in the Razorbacks’ conditioning workouts during the summer semester until he completed his junior college transfer academic requirements.

So Patton was “like a race car catching up from a lap behind,” Arkansas tight ends coach Barry Lunney said four days into the official workouts that Patton was finally able to participate in.

If Patton is “a race car catching up,” Lunney was asked, what kind of vehicle is Austin Cantrell, the third-year sophomore starting tight end from Roland, Okla.?

“He’s like a tank,” Lunney said, smiling. “He’s like a tank that just plows.”

Cantrell, both Arkansas coach Bret Bielema and Lunney have said, “could be the best blocking tight end in college football.”

The 6-3 Cantrell was the backup to current NFL rookie tight end Jeremy Sprinkle last season, but he was able to block with a devastating 269-pound impact.

Cantrell weighed in at a less tank-like 253 pounds before a practice last week, but still blocks like one, Lunney insists.

“I think he could weigh 210 pounds and still block,” Lunney

said when asked if weighing less render Cantrell less of a blocker. “He’s just naturally strong and tough. So no, I haven’t seen an issue there at all. It (Cantrell’s blocking) has only continued to improve.”

A more svelte tank is still a tank, it seems.

“I still feel good,” Cantrell said. “Yeah, honestly I feel better. I can keep my feet moving and stuff, and that helps me a little bit, so I keep guys in front of me.”

And stay in the game longer because his motor revs longer with the loss of 16 pounds from 2016.

“One thing about him that we’ve really challenged Austin on is about his conditioning level and endurance,” Lunney said. “Man, he took that to heart. I think Herbs (strength coach Ben Herbert) and the staff, they all got together and tried to do a little extra, and I think it’s really paid off for him. He’s been able to play a few more snaps in a row without getting fatigued. I know he’s slimmed down, and it’s helped him become a little bit more of a part of what we’re doing in the passing game.”

Because tight ends Patton, junior Jack Kraus of Bentonville and sophomores Cheyenne O’Grady of Fayetteville, Will Gragg of Dumas and Grayson Gunter are gifted as receivers, it sometimes seems that Cantrell gets pigeonholed as just a blocker.

However, no returning Razorbacks tight end caught anything remotely as much as Cantrell’s 13 catches for 120 yards and two touchdowns in 2016.

“I wouldn’t say that people underestimate me or anything,” Cantrell said. “I just don’t think that I’ve had a whole lot of opportunities. I caught a couple of balls last year, but I didn’t catch any deep balls or anything like that.”

Tanks don’t come equipped with wings to detonate on the fly. But Cantrell did surprise Mississippi State last season with a 32-yard reception from quarterback Austin Allen before completing the drive with a oneyard touchdown pass from running back Rawleigh Williams.

And with weight shed to the low 250s, this tank does motor more like his sub 240-pound Roland High School days when he seldom was off the field. While in high school, Cantrell also excelled as a defensive end and starred offensively as an H-back and tight end, tallying 95 carries for 600 yards, 14 catches for 270 yards and 10 touchdowns.

“It’s helped me out as a receiver,” Cantrell said. “I’m able to get in and out of my cuts better and change directions better. I only weighed 237 when I got here out of high school, and I feel better now than I did then.”

While Roland is not far from Fayetteville, the fact that the in-state schools did not recruit him quickly led to his choosing Arkansas.

“My first offer was UCO (University of Central Oklahoma),” Cantrell said. “It’s a Division II school in Edmond. Right after that, Arkansas offered me. And after I committed to Arkansas, OU offered me at I think outside linebacker. But I fell in love with this place, so …”

Any second thoughts?

“No,” Cantrell said. “None at all.”