Before the season began, Arkansas coach Sam Pittman knew his tight end room needed more depth. Starter Blake Kern was a known commodity and back-up Hudson Henry had established himself, too. After that, though, it was anyone’s game.
Seven games into the season and Pittman was right, except the group is even thinner than Arkansas had imagined.
Kern has struggled to repeat last year’s 20-catch, solid-blocking season as he has only six catches for 77 yards more than halfway through the season. Henry had barely seen the field until last week against Auburn. Injuries, a bunch of them, had stalled his progress. Things were so sparse at the spot, former wide receiver Trey Knox, who is listed at 215 pounds, shifted from his spot there to tight end.
Now, though, finally, some semblance of stability appears on the horizon. Kern had a solid catch-and-run against the Tigers. Knox grabbed a touchdown pass against Ole Miss. And Henry, for the first time in 2021, played reps that suggest his injury troubles may be a thing of the past.
“I was proud of him,” Pittman said. “He made plays, he was physical. He’s done that in practice. He’s certainly in the plans for this week and the future. I’m glad to see that he’s finally healthy again.”
Henry looked like a potential future star last year as a freshman, grabbing 16 passes and a touchdown. His absence as a sophomore, however, has blunted an Arkansas offense that, despite flashes of brilliance, could use another outlet.
Maybe it’s coming now with the youngest of the Henry trio of brothers to suit up for the Hogs.
“Football is football. Injuries happen,” Henry said. “You get beat up and you’re not able to play as well as you can. So, this past week it felt really good to get some confidence back and be able to get back in there and help the team out.”