On a depth chart featuring several solid tight ends, CJ O’Grady is regarded as the best of the bunch on the Arkansas roster. Taking that into consideration, it was noteworthy when the senior was repping with the third-team offense to start training camp in Fayetteville.

When asked about O’Grady’s status, Chad Morris didn’t hold back from calling out his senior pass catcher.

“I think we’ve got some competition in the tight ends room,” Morris said early in training camp. “We’ve got a standard you have to live up to. Cheyenne O’Grady has to decide if this is what he wants to do.”

Following the first scrimmage of training camp in Fayetteville, Morris was singing a different tune when asked about O’Grady, which should give Razorback fans some hope that the team’s most experienced tight end received the message his coach was sending him loud and clear.

“I think CJ has responded really well,” Morris said during his most recent media availability. “CJ is doing some good things and continues to add value to that tight end room and this football team. I’ve been pleased with the way he has responded.”

Coming off a season in which he led the Razorbacks in catches (30) and receiving touchdowns (6), which all came in the final eight games of the season, O’Grady appears poised for a big season in his final collegiate season.

While Morris has openly discussed the fact he didn’t receive the level of buy-in he desired last season, based on this exchange, it appears the Arkansas coach is sending out the message early to his players to get on the page or to move on. Better to get it out now and get his team all moving in the right direction in camp before having to issue the same type of mandate to his players once the season begins.