Making a case for Luke Hasz to be freshman all-American

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — During the late 2000s and into the 2010s the Arkansas Razorback football program was pumping out tight ends. It started with DJ Williams during the 2008 season under first year head coach Bobby Petrino. Quarterback Casey Dick was in need of a security blanket with so many inexperienced wide receiver in a new pass heavy offense.

It wasn’t the system that was pumping guys out of Fayetteville and into the NFL either. The Hogs were having a great run of identifying talent to adapt to the scheme and the players excelled.

Recent history of TE Excellence

Williams came out of nowhere in 2008 after recording 5 receptions for 94 yards as a redshirt freshman. The Little Rock, (Ark.) native blossomed the next season by churning out 61 catches for 723 yards and 3 touchdowns. His performance in 2010 earned him the John Mackey award given to college football’s best tight end.

Chris Gragg (2008-2012), Hunter Henry (2013-2015), AJ Derby (2014) and Jeremy Sprinkle (2013-2016) were all tight ends that ended up playing in the NFL after playing collegiately for the Razorbacks.

It’s been a bit of a dry spell for Arkansas as there haven’t been many productive tight ends to choose from. Cheyenne O’Grady had his moments during the 2018 and 2019 seasons. However, consistency was an issue there.

The position wasn’t much of a focus in the Kendal Briles offense either. Trey Knox eventually gained the weight during the spring and summer leading up to the 2022 season. He led the Razorback tight ends in receptions, yards and touchdowns but transferred to South Carolina after the departure of his position coach, Dowell Loggains.

With one scholarship tight end on the roster it was imperative that Arkansas find some bodies for fill the room. Shamar Easter and Luke Hasz were the two options for incoming freshmen. While North Texas transfer Var’Keyes Gumms comes in after a freshman all-American performance in 2022.

Hasz is an intriguing option for the Razorback offense in 2023. He can do it all when it comes to being a capable blocker, can catch the ball over the middle and can leave him on the boundary as a matchup disadvantage for cornerbacks.

Recruiting Profile

Considered a bit undersized at his position, the 6-foot-3 245 pounder fits the mold of a flex tight end that can play any position amongst the receivers. He was once the top prospect at his position during the 2023 recruiting cycle but was somehow dropped after committing to Arkansas.

His ability to see the ball in the air and adjust in tight spots will make him extremely valuable to a quarterback like KJ Jefferson who’s adjusting to a more pass happy offense. He recorded 35 receptions for 597 yards and 9 touchdowns as a senior at Bixby High School.

The Bixby, (Okla.) product chose Arkansas over 33 other offers that included Oklahoma, Alabama, Michigan, Florida State and USC.

Coaching Upgrade?

Has Arkansas upgraded with their addition of tight end coach Morgan Turner? With Loggains off to South Carolina, Sam Pittman needed to hire someone that could not only recruit at a high level but develop them, too. With such a position group in disarray it would take a special coach.

Luckily enough, Arkansas was able to land Turner from Stanford after 13 year stint with the Cardinal football program. Under his guidance, Stanford became the school to be transformed into an NFL tight end. Notable players include Dalton Schultz (Dallas), Austin Hooper (Tennessee), Coby Fleener, Levine Toilolo, Zach Ertz (Arizona), Kaden Smith and most recently Colby Parkinson (Seattle).

Three of those tight ends were at least a Mackey Award semi-finalist or tabbed as an all-American. With a resume like that it’s hard not to be excited for the future of the tight ends.

The combination of Hasz’s talent and the coaching that surrounds him should help push him to be a freshman all-American. According to reports from practice is that Hasz has received extensive run with the first couple of groups over the first few days of fall camp.

If Arkansas can identify a tight end or two as quality starter(s), then 2023 will be much easier to navigate.