The first in a series of position glances for the 2024 Razorbacks.
FAYETTEVILLE — A pairing that Luke Hasz and Ty Washington would have never wished for — shelved with shoulder injuries together on the University of Arkansas sideline — might wind up having a bigger benefit in the long run.
At least that’s the way the pair of Razorback tight ends feel about the rough hand they were dealt last season.
“It was kind of like a cool coincidence and you can tell that it kind of happened for a reason with both of us getting hurt because we were able to come together and get closer,” Hasz said late Thursday.
“I mean, I think it just created our bond together and the tight end room bond stronger. I think we had just a great time working back and we’re definitely both excited to be back out there.”
Hasz was off to a sensational start in September with 16 catches for 253 yards and 3 touchdowns before he suffered a broken collarbone on the first series against Texas A&M in Week 5.
Washington was fantastic as Hasz’s replacement in the starting unit, going off with 7 catches for 90 yards and 2 touchdowns at Ole Miss and racking up 11 catches for 170 yards in a span of 13 quarters before he dislocated his shoulder on the Hogs’ first drive for a touchdown at Florida.
“I know that me and Luke talked a little bit because I started to get a little bit depressed here and there after I got hurt, and I know he went through the same thing a little bit,” Washington said.
In an eerie coincidence, both players were hurt on the third offensive snap of the game, Hasz after a 14-yard catch and Washington after a 12-yard grab.
“We got hurt on the same play, almost the same drive, No. 3 play in the game,” Washington said. “It was like we just had to work through it together. And coming back from it, I know my injury was longer than his, but our physical trainers and stuff were great.”
Washington gave particular credit to associate athletic trainer Tamaria Hibbler and added, “They were always there for us mentally and physically.”
The return to health for Hasz and Washington is a huge plus for second-year tight ends coach Morgan Turner, who oversees one of the deepest positions on the team.
“You have a year of growth from all of them,” Turner said. “With that, maturity, strength, speed, quickness. I mean all the time they’ve been putting in the weight room, it’s showing, and then the confidence that comes with that too.”
Hasz and Washington are at the top of the depth chart, but the Hogs can go deep at the position, which is projected to play a key role under first-year offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino. During his tenure as Arkansas head coach from 2008-11, DJ Williams and Chris Gragg were big producers, with Williams winning the Mackey Award as the nation’s top tight end in 2010.
Redshirt junior Var’keyes Gumms had 34 receptions for 458 yards and 5 touchdowns at North Texas in 2022 to earn second-team Freshman All-America honors from The Athletic and the College Football Network. He had three catches for 26 yards in his debut season at Arkansas.
“I just feel like coming in was kind of rough for me as a transition,” Gumms said. “I had stuff going on behind [the scenes] but soon I got in and started to be around the players more and the coaches more, then Petrino came in with his offense. He’s a cool coach.
“I feel like learning this offense, you will be ready for the pros because there’s so many similarities between the offense we have and the same offense they run in the pros. I feel like if we can get that down pat, our offense in general will be dangerous.”
Arkansas also added Andreas Paaske, a 6-6, 265-pound native of Denmark who transferred from Eastern Michigan. He’s seen as a bonus in the run game with physical characteristics similar to Nathan Bax, a four-game starter for the Hogs last year.
“I know I’ve learned a lot from him, personally, like blocking, being more physical and stuff like that,” Washington said. “I know he weighs more than me, but his steps and everything are very good. I wouldn’t compare him to Bax, but he’s a very good player and I’ve learned a lot from him.”
Redshirt freshman Shamar Easter, a 6-5, 228-pounder and 4-star signee from Ashdown, is seen as the rising understudy in the group.
“He’s still continuing to grow,” Turner said. “He’s continuing to master the offense, continuing to put on some of the weight we need. But there’s those flashes there. There’s something there and we’re continuing to work with him because we know he’s got a real chance.”
Turner used the term “unbelievable” to describe the dedication from the 6-3, 241-pound Hasz to improve his performance.
“He’s on the smaller side but he’s put in the time, he’s added weight, added strength,” Turner said. “I think he’s in great shape, he’s lean. He wants to be great. You can see it with the way he works but you can also feel it. He just has that desire and the way he lives his life reflects that.”
Turner sounded stoked at sorting out playing time for his group, which includes the possibility of H-back or blocking back work in the power run game.
“We just tell them, ‘If you’re going to show us that you can help us on the field, you’re going to go get on the field,'” Turner said. “We have multiple personnel groupings. We can mix and match two tight ends on the field. We can mix and match three tight ends on the field.
“It’s not like Luke is going to go and play every snap, don’t need him to play every snap. The wear and tear is real in this league. So other guys are going to have to be ready to step up and other guys are pushing them too. The competition is going to make us all better.”
Hasz and Easter were rated among the Hogs’ top five freshmen signees in the class of 2023 along with cornerback Jaylon Braxton, tailback Isaiah Augustave (now transferred to Colorado) and defensive end Quincy Rhodes Jr.
Hasz’s quick start earned him midseason Freshman All-America honors from The Athletic. He picked up the Mackey Award tight end of the week award after making six catches for 116 yards and two touchdowns in a narrow loss at LSU.
The 6-3, 241-pounder from Bixby, Okla., got engaged on Monday to MJ McConnell, a Fayetteville native and RBI Girl for the Hogs’ baseball team.
Turner was pleased to have kept all the eligible tight ends from 2023 and added to the group.
“They enjoy being here. They believe in what we’re doing as a team,” Turner said. “I think the team is really close right now and they feel that and they enjoy being with the other guys. They’ve really bonded together and they decide that they’re going to put in some work and it’s showing out on the field.”