@masonchoate
arkansas.rivals.com
With Arkansas' spring football set to start on March 7, HawgBeat continues its series of previewing positions for the 2024 Razorbacks.
According to HawgBeat's calculations, head coach Sam Pittman and the Hogs currently sit with 84 scholarship players going into spring ball, which leaves one open spot to fill when the transfer portal opens back up in April.
Led by second-year position coach Morgan Taylor, the tight end room features arguably the best player on Arkansas' roster in redshirt freshman Luke Hasz, who had a potential breakout freshman campaign cut short due to a broken clavicle.
Arkansas has five scholarship tight ends, with Eastern Michigan transfer Andreas Paaske being the only newcomer. Ty Washington, Var'keyes Gumms and Shamar Easter make up the remaining scholarship tight ends, and all three have as good of a chance as any to take the No. 2 spot behind Hasz.
We continue our spring positional previews with a look at Arkansas' tight ends, including stats, highlights, spring thoughts and expectations.
Returning: Var'keyes Gumms (Redshirt Junior), Ty Washington (Redshirt Sophomore), Luke Hasz (Redshirt Freshman), Shamar Easter (Redshirt Freshman)
Newcomers: Andreas Paaske (Eastern Michigan transfer)
Redshirt Freshman / 6'3", 242 lbs./ Bixby HS (OK)
2023 Stats: 16 receptions, 253 receiving yards, 3 receiving touchdowns
2023 PFF Grades: 232 snaps, 77.2 OFF, 89.5 PASS, 73.1 PBLK, 52.0 RBLK
Spring Thoughts: Hasz was as good as advertised as soon as he stepped on campus last spring as a four-star out of Bixby, Oklahoma. He's never really looked like a freshman in practice, and that translated to the field for five short games before he broke his clavicle on Sept. 30 against Texas A&M.
Despite having his season cut short after five games, Hasz was still the team's third-leading receiver and his three receiving touchdowns were tied with Tyrone Broden for second most on the team.
It took Hasz a few games to really breakout, but he caught a touchdown on Sept. 16 against BYU and then went off with six catches for 116 yards and two scores at LSU the next week. He caught a 14-yard pass on the first drive against Texas A&M on Sept. 30 and broke his collarbone when he was taken to the ground.
If I were to guarantee one player on this team makes the NFL, I'd probably choose Hasz... or defensive end Landon Jackson. The Razorbacks likely had to fend off some of the nation's highest bidders to keep Hasz in Fayetteville. I'm sure Hasz will need to shake the rust off after the injury, but he's going to be a legit threat for new offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino.
Redshirt Sophomore / 6'4", 247 lbs./ Lee County HS (GA)
2023 Stats: 11 receptions, 170 receiving yards, 2 receiving touchdowns
2023 PFF Grades: 164 snaps, 77.3 OFF, 86.6 PASS, 71.5 PBLK, 56.8 RBLK
Spring Thoughts: When Hasz went down, Washington stepped up right away. As a redshirt freshman, he finally got a real shot and made the most of it with seven catches for 90 yards and two touchdowns at Ole Miss on Oct. 7.
It was odd to see the Hogs go away from Washington after that, as he caught just two passes the next two games against Alabama and Mississippi State. When they finally started going to him again at Florida on Nov. 4, he suffered a season-ending dislocated shoulder.
Washington actually graded out slightly higher than Hasz, according to Pro Football Focus. The one-two punch of those two could end up being really special for the Razorbacks.
While Hasz is the clear No. 1 guy in my book, I think Washington could be in store for plenty of action. The Hogs didn't add much at receiver, and it could be because they really like the two pass catching options of Hasz and Washington at tight end.
Redshirt Junior / 6'3", 242 lbs./ Dekaney HS (TX) / North Texas
2023 Stats: 3 receptions, 26 receiving yards
2023 PFF Grades: 122 snaps, 45.8 OFF, 51.8 PASS, 28.9 PBLK, 43.7 RBLK
Spring Thoughts: Gumms was a disappointment in 2023 to say the least. After transferring in from North Texas, where he put up big numbers in 2022, he had a legit shot at being the top tight end prior to the start of the season.
Hasz being really good didn't help Gumms, nor did Washington stepping up as big as he did. But Gumms also didn't seize and opportunities even though he has the ability to.
If you turn on Gumms' tape from North Texas, you can't deny that he has talent in the open field. There could've just been an adjustment period to the SEC for him last year and he could be more ready this season. The spring will likely give us a more clear idea.
Redshirt Freshman / 6'5", 223 lbs./ Ashdown HS (AR)
2023 Stats: N/A
2023 PFF Grades: N/A
Spring Thoughts: Easter was not an early enrolee last year in the spring, so he was already behind to begin with. The Razorbacks also had super senior Nathan Bax and Louisville transfer Francis Sherman on the depth chart last season.
I never saw much of what Easter could do in practice, as he rarely (if ever) was in during the fastball periods they allow the media to view. He also didn't appear in any games as a freshman, so there's no film on him.
Rivals ranked Easter as a 5.8 four-star out of high school and he was the No. 10 tight end prospect in the 2023 class. While recruiting rankings aren't always the best thing to go off of, Rivals had Hasz ranked as the No. 20 tight end in the 2023 class.
Senior / 6'6", 255 lbs./ Copenhagen, Denmark./ Sellorod Senior Sport / Eastern Michigan
2023 Stats: 4 receptions, 39 receiving yards
2023 PFF Grades: 168 snaps, 47.3 OFF, 54.4 PASS, 33.6 PBLK, 50.2 RBLK
Spring Thoughts: For the second year in a row, the Razorbacks elected to bring in a scholarship tight end transfer that didn't do much at his previous stop (Sherman last year).
Paaske was a little bit more productive as a sophomore in 2022, when he caught 10 passes for 206 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
He has the size for sure, but the numbers aren't impressive and PFF didn't grade Paaske very well either. He's likely going to be a depth piece like we've seen guys such as Bax, Sherman and even Blake Kern be in recent years.
HawgBeat - Arkansas Football 2024 Spring Preview: Tight End
HawgBeat previews the Arkansas Razorbacks tight end room ahead of spring practice ramping up next week.
arkansas.rivals.com
With Arkansas' spring football set to start on March 7, HawgBeat continues its series of previewing positions for the 2024 Razorbacks.
According to HawgBeat's calculations, head coach Sam Pittman and the Hogs currently sit with 84 scholarship players going into spring ball, which leaves one open spot to fill when the transfer portal opens back up in April.
Led by second-year position coach Morgan Taylor, the tight end room features arguably the best player on Arkansas' roster in redshirt freshman Luke Hasz, who had a potential breakout freshman campaign cut short due to a broken clavicle.
Arkansas has five scholarship tight ends, with Eastern Michigan transfer Andreas Paaske being the only newcomer. Ty Washington, Var'keyes Gumms and Shamar Easter make up the remaining scholarship tight ends, and all three have as good of a chance as any to take the No. 2 spot behind Hasz.
We continue our spring positional previews with a look at Arkansas' tight ends, including stats, highlights, spring thoughts and expectations.
Returning: Var'keyes Gumms (Redshirt Junior), Ty Washington (Redshirt Sophomore), Luke Hasz (Redshirt Freshman), Shamar Easter (Redshirt Freshman)
Newcomers: Andreas Paaske (Eastern Michigan transfer)
Luke Hasz
Redshirt Freshman / 6'3", 242 lbs./ Bixby HS (OK)
2023 Stats: 16 receptions, 253 receiving yards, 3 receiving touchdowns
2023 PFF Grades: 232 snaps, 77.2 OFF, 89.5 PASS, 73.1 PBLK, 52.0 RBLK
Spring Thoughts: Hasz was as good as advertised as soon as he stepped on campus last spring as a four-star out of Bixby, Oklahoma. He's never really looked like a freshman in practice, and that translated to the field for five short games before he broke his clavicle on Sept. 30 against Texas A&M.
Despite having his season cut short after five games, Hasz was still the team's third-leading receiver and his three receiving touchdowns were tied with Tyrone Broden for second most on the team.
It took Hasz a few games to really breakout, but he caught a touchdown on Sept. 16 against BYU and then went off with six catches for 116 yards and two scores at LSU the next week. He caught a 14-yard pass on the first drive against Texas A&M on Sept. 30 and broke his collarbone when he was taken to the ground.
If I were to guarantee one player on this team makes the NFL, I'd probably choose Hasz... or defensive end Landon Jackson. The Razorbacks likely had to fend off some of the nation's highest bidders to keep Hasz in Fayetteville. I'm sure Hasz will need to shake the rust off after the injury, but he's going to be a legit threat for new offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino.
Ty Washington
Redshirt Sophomore / 6'4", 247 lbs./ Lee County HS (GA)
2023 Stats: 11 receptions, 170 receiving yards, 2 receiving touchdowns
2023 PFF Grades: 164 snaps, 77.3 OFF, 86.6 PASS, 71.5 PBLK, 56.8 RBLK
Spring Thoughts: When Hasz went down, Washington stepped up right away. As a redshirt freshman, he finally got a real shot and made the most of it with seven catches for 90 yards and two touchdowns at Ole Miss on Oct. 7.
It was odd to see the Hogs go away from Washington after that, as he caught just two passes the next two games against Alabama and Mississippi State. When they finally started going to him again at Florida on Nov. 4, he suffered a season-ending dislocated shoulder.
Washington actually graded out slightly higher than Hasz, according to Pro Football Focus. The one-two punch of those two could end up being really special for the Razorbacks.
While Hasz is the clear No. 1 guy in my book, I think Washington could be in store for plenty of action. The Hogs didn't add much at receiver, and it could be because they really like the two pass catching options of Hasz and Washington at tight end.
Var'keyes Gumms
Redshirt Junior / 6'3", 242 lbs./ Dekaney HS (TX) / North Texas
2023 Stats: 3 receptions, 26 receiving yards
2023 PFF Grades: 122 snaps, 45.8 OFF, 51.8 PASS, 28.9 PBLK, 43.7 RBLK
Spring Thoughts: Gumms was a disappointment in 2023 to say the least. After transferring in from North Texas, where he put up big numbers in 2022, he had a legit shot at being the top tight end prior to the start of the season.
Hasz being really good didn't help Gumms, nor did Washington stepping up as big as he did. But Gumms also didn't seize and opportunities even though he has the ability to.
If you turn on Gumms' tape from North Texas, you can't deny that he has talent in the open field. There could've just been an adjustment period to the SEC for him last year and he could be more ready this season. The spring will likely give us a more clear idea.
Shamar Easter
Redshirt Freshman / 6'5", 223 lbs./ Ashdown HS (AR)
2023 Stats: N/A
2023 PFF Grades: N/A
Spring Thoughts: Easter was not an early enrolee last year in the spring, so he was already behind to begin with. The Razorbacks also had super senior Nathan Bax and Louisville transfer Francis Sherman on the depth chart last season.
I never saw much of what Easter could do in practice, as he rarely (if ever) was in during the fastball periods they allow the media to view. He also didn't appear in any games as a freshman, so there's no film on him.
Rivals ranked Easter as a 5.8 four-star out of high school and he was the No. 10 tight end prospect in the 2023 class. While recruiting rankings aren't always the best thing to go off of, Rivals had Hasz ranked as the No. 20 tight end in the 2023 class.
Andreas Paaske
Senior / 6'6", 255 lbs./ Copenhagen, Denmark./ Sellorod Senior Sport / Eastern Michigan
2023 Stats: 4 receptions, 39 receiving yards
2023 PFF Grades: 168 snaps, 47.3 OFF, 54.4 PASS, 33.6 PBLK, 50.2 RBLK
Spring Thoughts: For the second year in a row, the Razorbacks elected to bring in a scholarship tight end transfer that didn't do much at his previous stop (Sherman last year).
Paaske was a little bit more productive as a sophomore in 2022, when he caught 10 passes for 206 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
He has the size for sure, but the numbers aren't impressive and PFF didn't grade Paaske very well either. He's likely going to be a depth piece like we've seen guys such as Bax, Sherman and even Blake Kern be in recent years.
