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Arkansas Football: Projected 2-deep depth chart for 2017

By Ryan T. Smith

MEMPHIS, TN - JANUARY 2: Head coach Bret Bielema of the Arkansas Razorbacks and his players celebrate following the AutoZone Liberty Bowl win against the Kansas State Wildcats at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium on January 2, 2016 in Memphis, Tennessee. Arkansas won 45-23. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
MEMPHIS, TN - JANUARY 2: Head coach Bret Bielema of the Arkansas Razorbacks and his players celebrate following the AutoZone Liberty Bowl win against the Kansas State Wildcats at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium on January 2, 2016 in Memphis, Tennessee. Arkansas won 45-23. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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OXFORD, MS – NOVEMBER 07: Jared Cornelius #1 of the Arkansas Razorbacks catches a pass for a touchdown in front of Mike Hilton #38 of the Mississippi Rebels during the third quarter of a game at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on November 7, 2015 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
OXFORD, MS – NOVEMBER 07: Jared Cornelius #1 of the Arkansas Razorbacks catches a pass for a touchdown in front of Mike Hilton #38 of the Mississippi Rebels during the third quarter of a game at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on November 7, 2015 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

Wide Receivers

Starting wide receivers: Deon Stewart, LaMichael Pettway
Backups: Jordan Jones, Jonathan Nance

The Razorbacks are going to be relying on a lot of unfamiliar faces in the receiving game after losing most of their top targets from 2016, so there are ample opportunities for playing time in this unit. The group got even more thin with possible starters Jared Cornelius and T.J. Hammonds sidelined with injuries.

So who emerges from the rest of the pack? Bet on youth. Stewart and Pettway both saw playing time as freshmen, and entered August as odds-on bets to start as sophomores. Beyond them, things get hazy — Jonathan Nance is a speedy junior who’s shown promise in the offseason as a receiver and a returner, while Jordan Jones redshirted last season but has the potential to be a star. This is a young bunch that’s been blindsided by injuries, but they don’t lack promise.

Related Story: Is Arkansas a dark-horse contender to win SEC in 2017?

Starting tight end: Austin Cantrell
Backup: Cheyenne O’Grady

For all the uncertainty at receiver, the Hogs have a pair of tantalizing options at tight end. Sophomore Austin Cantrell caught 13 passes for 120 yards and a pair of touchdowns as a freshman, and given how much Bret Bielema loves to use his tight ends, he’s got a good shot a doubling those numbers in 2017. O’Grady is equally promising, a former four-star recruit who showed dangerous downfield receiving ability in limited playing time last season.

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