Which Freshman Has Gotten Sam Pittman's Attention in Spring?

By Andy Hodges,

2023-03-30

With a host of new players to be looking at, one freshman making plays stands out.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas coaches knows freshman tight end Luke Hasz is a project, but they like the upside potential.

"Really good football player," Razorbacks coach Sam Pittman said Wednesday. "A guy that’s catching the ball extremely well, can run, can get open. That’s probably the guy of the young guys that has stood out the most."

That's something the Hogs really haven't had in overwhelming numbers from that position in awhile. You may have to go back to Hunter Henry to find one who can do that consistently.

A tight end who can do that consistently brings an entirely new dimension to an offense. Go back to John Mackey with the Baltimore Colts when he more or less defined the modern-day tight end. They only name the best tight end in the country for him every year.

From a technical standpoint, you can scheme whatever his blocking skill is in or out of the game plan. Getting open and catching the ball involves a lot more than just wanting to do it.

"He’s a really good route runner," Pittman said about Hasz. "He’s exceptional catching the football and when he has it in his hands he’s hard to tackle."

Maybe the best thing is he's showing that in the early spring practices.

"It just seems like every day he has six, eight, 10 catches in some type of team setting," Pittman said. "He gets open and catches everything that’s close to him. I’ve been really, really pleased with him."

Pittman would like to see the true freshman be on the field for every play, but right now he's not ready in the scheme to be an on-the-line tight end because he's a little light at 6'3", 226 pounds.

But, he would be getting ready for a senior prom in a few weeks over at Bixby, Oklahoma. Those guys usually grow in size and strength fairly quickly the first year or two.

And, again, he's only been on a college weight and nutrition program for a couple of months.

"He’s not the biggest tight end, but he’s willing and he’s capable," Pittman said. "We have to continue working that with him."

There's plenty of time before the games count. Development is a big part for the Hogs' program right now.

But they like the upside with Hasz because folks that normally catch the ball like that don't play tight end.

They're playing wide receiver.

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