Razorbacks cope with injuries
FAYETTEVILLE — Cheyenne “C.J.” O’Grady missed Arkansas’ Tuesday practice because of illness after compiling a breakthrough game for the Razorbacks on Saturday against Texas A&M.
Tuesday was the heaviest game week practice as the Razorbacks (1-4, 0-2 Southeastern Conference) prep for Saturday’s 11 a.m. game at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville against the No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide (5-0, 2-0). The game will be televised on ESPN (Resort Channel 30).
The junior tight end from Fayetteville made three catches for 77 yards against the Aggies (3-2, 1-1). O’Grady caught a 36-yard pass from junior quarterback Ty Storey that ignited Arkansas’ first touchdown drive to rally from a 17-0 deficit. A&M held, 24-17, as the teams traded touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
“He was a little under the weather today, but hopefully we can get him out there tomorrow,” Storey said after Tuesday’s practice. “He’s a game-changer, as you could see. He provided a huge spark for us.”
O’Grady did watch Tuesday’s practice as Austin Cantrell, Grayson Gunter and Hayden Johnson manned the tight end position. The unit was already without Jeremy Patton, possibly for the season, after he needed surgery for an ankle injury he sustained on Saturday.
Patton posted on Twitter this week that he has undergone successful surgery.
“I think it was good he (O’Grady) was out there,” Storey said. “You could definitely see he was still focused on learning and seeing what we’re going this week. . I’m glad that he at least made it to practice …. You tell he was actually invested in it and trying to get his mental reps.”
“Last week, we had a couple of guys down, too,” Cantrell said. “Everybody just steps up. I think the tight ends, even the guys that don’t get talked about as much, they step up every week whenever something goes wrong. They help us out.”
Junior running back Devwah Whaley was in a yellow non-practice jersey and is unlikely to play against Alabama. He sustained a concussion during Arkansas’ 34-3 loss to Auburn (4-1, 1-1) on Sept. 21.
Sophomore Rakeem Boyd, a junior college transfer, started in Whaley’s place against A&M and is expected to start against Alabama.
While Storey talked up the tight ends, the tight ends talked him up, too.
“He’s just stepping up every game,” Cantrell said. “Here and there it’s different things, he’s just growing as a QB. He’s our guy. We all trust him, the whole offense does.”
Cornerback Ryan Pulley has been paired with Britto Tutt, Jarques McClellion and Montaric “Buster” Brown at the opposite corner since sophomore starter Chevin Calloway has been out. Calloway posted on Instagram this week he was officially withdrawing from the team, at least temporarily, because of personal and family issues. He has not been with the team since the first practice after the second game of the season.
Tutt was later injured and missed the Texas A&M game, but he has returned to practice. Pulley said Tuesday night that sixth-year senior Kevin Richardson has reclaimed his starting nickel position.
Richardson started at nickel last year before suffering a freak accident in August and missing the first four games with a broken foot. He logged his first extensive game action of the season Saturday against the Aggies.
“That is another need on the defense,” Pulley said. “He is back in the starting position. We need him as a vocal contributor. He knows the defense. It is a blessing to have him back out of there.”
The backups at corner continue to make their case to start opposite of Pulley.
“They are doing good,” Pulley said. “We’ve got Jarques, we’ve got Buster and we got Britto back today, so that’s a blessing. ‘Quez’ has been playing outstanding the last two games. Buster, he’s still coming on. He is still getting used to the speed. Those guys are doing great.”