Arkansas

HawgBeat – How will Arkansas’ tight end position turn out?

Published

2 years ago

June 30, 2023

HawgBeat – How will Arkansas’ tight end position turn out?

Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman lost his tight ends coach, starting tight end and offensive coordinator after the 2022 season, but he built things back quickly in the offseason and the tight end position is shaping up to be a strong suit for Arkansas in 2023.

Former Razorback tight ends coach Dowell Loggains left for the offensive coordinator position at South Carolina and starting tight end Trey Knox followed suit soon after. The loss of Loggains prompted Pittman to hire former Stanford tight ends coach Morgan Turner, who is one of the more decorated coaches at the position.

Arkansas also lost offensive coordinator Kendal Briles to TCU, but Pittman quickly pivoted to Dan Enos, who is now in his second stint as the offensive coordinator in Fayetteville. Enos has proved at just about every stop that he knows how to properly utilize the tight end position in his offense.

What seemed like doom and gloom with the losses quickly turned into opportunity and potential. Turner and Enos delivered, as four-star freshmen tight ends Luke Hasz and Shamar Easter decided to stay on board with the Razorbacks. The Hogs also landed coveted North Texas transfer Var’Keyes Gumms and veteran Louisville transfer Francis Sherman at the position.

A position that featured just three scholarship guys during spring football — Hasz, Nathan Bax and Tyrus Washington — now has six capable of seeing the field.

Arkansas tight ends accounted for 14.7% of the total receptions in 2022 under Briles with Knox’s 26 catches leading the way. Bax had three catches, Washington had one and Hudson Henry caught four passes to round out receptions for tight ends last year.

It doesn’t seem like Bax is going to see many more targets than he did last year, as Hasz and Gumms are two very capable pass-catching tight ends. Bax and Sherman, who caught one pass for Louisville last year, will probably primarily be blockers who catch the occasional pass.

That leaves Washington and Easter. The former’s one catch in 2022 was a 17-yard touchdown in the Liberty Bowl win over Kansas. Washington has the tools to be a hybrid tight end that can have success in the passing game.

Easter didn’t enroll early to participate in the spring, so the media hasn’t had the chance to see him in a Razorback uniform yet. He caught just 15 passes for 160 yards as a senior for Ashdown High School, but he seems to have been a willing blocker with 12 pancake blocks.

There is no shortage of options, but they each provide a different skillset. Hasz, Gumms and Washington are more modern pass-catching tight ends, while Bax, Sherman and Easter are talented blockers. Easter could fight for targets, but Bax and Sherman likely won’t run many routes.

During Enos’ first stint in Fayetteville from 2015-17, Hunter Henry won the Mackey Award in 2015 and he hauled in 51 passes for 739 yards and three scores that year. Jeremy Sprinkle caught 27 passes for 389 yards and six touchdowns behind Henry in 2015, and the next year, Sprinkle hauled in 33 passes for 380 yards and four scores.

You don’t have to go far back to see Enos still utilizing the tight end heavily, as Corey Dyches was Maryland’s second leading pass catcher last season with Enos calling the offense. Dyches caught 39 passes for 494 yards and three scores.

It should be interesting to see who emerges as the top options at tight end during fall camp, which starts in early August.

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Arkansas

Where Arkansas transfers landed

Published

7 hours ago

January 12, 2025

Press Room

Where Arkansas transfers landed

While the Arkansas Razorbacks have been hitting the transfer portal hard, it is partially as a result of having more than 20 scholarship players decide to enter the portal after a 6-6 regular season that was capped off with a Liberty Bowl win over Texas Tech on Dec. 27.

The transfer portal officially opened Dec. 9 and it was open for a 30 day window through Dec. 28. There is also an additional five-day window for players to enter once their season is over, plus there will be an additional 10-day portal window from April 16-25.

ALSO READ: Arkansas Football 2025 Roster Tracker

HawgBeat provides a look at where former Razorbacks have transferred so far…

Note: “GP” denotes games played. Even if a player appears on special teams, that counts as a game played.

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OL Patrick Kutas – Ole Miss

From: Christian Brothers High School (Memphis, TN)

Transferred to: Ole Miss

Seasons spent at Arkansas: 3

Career Stats: 25 GP

TE Luke Hasz – Ole Miss

From: Bixby High School (Bixby, OK)

Transferred to: Ole Miss

Seasons spent at Arkansas: 2

Career Stats: 17 GP, 42 REC, 577 YDS, 7 TD, 13.7 YPC

CB Jaylon Braxton – Ole Miss

From: Frisco Lone Star High School (Frisco, TX)

Transferred to: Ole Miss

Seasons spent at Arkansas: 2

Career Stats: 11 GP, 20 tackles, 1 INT, 11 PDEF, 1 FF

OL Joshua Braun – Kentucky

From: Florida

Transferred to: Kentucky

Seasons spent at Arkansas: 2

Career Stats: 50 GP

S TJ Metcalf – Michigan

From: Pinson Valley High School (Pinson, AL)

Transferred to: Michigan

Seasons spent at Arkansas: 2

Career Stats: 24 GP, 72 tackles, 3 INT, 10 PDEF, 1 TFL, 1 FF

DB Tevis Metcalf – Michigan

From: Pinson Valley High School (Pinson, AL)

Transferred to: Michigan

Seasons spent at Arkansas: 1

Career Stats: 12 GP

DE Nico Davillier – UCLA

From: Maumelle High School (Maumelle, AR)

Transferred to: UCLA

Seasons spent at Arkansas: 3

Career Stats: 34 GP, 34 tackles, 5 TFL, 2 SACK

C Addison Nichols – SMU

From: Tennessee

Transferred to: SMU

Seasons spent at Arkansas: 1

Career Stats: 26 GP

LB Brad Spence – Texas

From: Klein Forest High School (Houston, TX)

Transferred to: Texas

Seasons spent at Arkansas: 2

Career Stats: 23 GP, 70 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 4.5 SACK, 2 PDEF, 1 INT, 1 TD

LB Carson Dean – Purdue

From: Hebron High School (Carrollton, TX)

Transferred to: Purdue

Seasons spent at Arkansas: 2

Career Stats: 4 GP, 1 tackle

QB Malachi Singleton – Purdue

From: North Cobb High School (Kennesaw, GA)

Transferred to: Purdue

Seasons spent at Arkansas: 2

Career Stats: 5 GP, 21 COMP, 28 ATT, 358 YDS, 1 PASS TD, 17 RUSH, 74 YDS, 3 RUSH TD

WR Isaiah Sategna – Oklahoma

From: Fayetteville High School (Fayetteville, AR)

Transferred to: Oklahoma

Seasons spent at Arkansas: 3

Career Stats: 28 GP, 54 REC, 632 YDS, 3 TD, 11.7 YPC, 2 RUSH, 43 YDS

DB Dylan Hasz – Appalachian State

From: Bixby High School (Bixby, OK)

Transferred to: Appalachian State

Seasons at Arkansas: 2

Career Stats: 24 GP, 2 tackles

RB Rashod Dubinion – Appalachian State

From: Cedar Grove High School (Ellenwood, GA)

Transferred to: Appalachian State

Seasons at Arkansas: 3

Career Stats: 31 GP, 209 ATT, 888 YDS, 8 RUSH TD, 42 REC, 315 YDS, 2 REC TD, 7.5 YPC

LB Alex Sanford – Purdue

From: Oxford High School (Oxford, MS)

Transferred to: Purdue

Seasons at Arkansas: 3

Career Stats: 23 GP, 1 tackle

LB Kaden Henley – Harding

From: Shiloh Christian High School (Springdale, AR)

Transferred to: Harding

Seasons at Arkansas: 3

Career Stats: 1 GP

OL Ty’Kieast Crawford – UCLA

From: Charlotte

Transferred to: UCLA

Seasons at Arkansas: 4

Career Stats: 39 GP

OTHERS

Uncommitted

OL Amaury Wiggins

DB Dallas Young

WR Dazmin James (expected to enter portal)

Quit/kicked off before end of season

LS Eli Stein (Wisconsin)

WR Jaedon Wilson (UCLA)

WR Davion Dozier (Appalachian State)

TE Ty Washington (Notre Dame)

TE Var’keyes Gumms (UNLV)

**JOIN THE CONVERSATION WITH ARKANSAS FANS ON THE TROUGH, HAWGBEAT’S PREMIUM MESSAGE BOARD**

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Arkansas

Parade on Beale Street | Arkansas Democrat Gazette

Published

18 hours ago

January 12, 2025

Press Room

Parade on Beale Street | Arkansas Democrat Gazette

MEMPHIS –While Beale Street is famous for being the Home of the Blues, red was the color of the day Dec. 26 at the Beale Street Parade, where many watchers were clad in red — a team color for both teams playing in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl the following day.

Marching bands, vintage vehicles, cheer squads and floats marched, strutted and cruised down the historic street in downtown Memphis as fans of the Arkansas Razorbacks and the Texas Tech Red Raiders lined the streets, cheering as bands and cheer squads from their schools passed by.

The University of Arkansas Razorback Marching Band, cheerleaders and pep squad brought up the rear of the parade, creating a grand finale as they marched to meet Texas Tech’s Goin’ Band from Raiderland at Beale Street’s Handy Park for a festive Bash on Beale Pep Rally. Both the parade and the pep rally were sponsored by the Beale Street Merchants Association.

— Story and photos by Cary Jenkins

Maddie Hayley, Kim Hayley, Spphie Haley, Layne Haley, Toomy Haley, orey Hale and Abbie Hayley on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)

Caden, Colton, Amber and Drew Cates, all of Little Rock, on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)

D.J. Stutts, Shante Stutts and DAnte Stutts of Batesville, mother and siblings of the late Razorback football team member Dion Stutts on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)

Aspen Coad, Mattie Grace Fortenberry, Aylin Coad, Milli Fortenberry and Mac Fortenberry on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)

Rhett, Dana Asher and Cooper Daniel of Rogers on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)

Jeff Box of Memphis on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)

on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)

Elivs Moya, Jennifer and Hunter Yurachek on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)

on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)

Sue E. Pig on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)

on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)

Jonathan and Brittany Hays with Paxton and Brooke Kellett, all of Jonesboro. on 12/26/2024 on Beale Street, Memphis, Liberty Bowl Parade. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Cary Jenkins)

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Arkansas

VIDEO: Calipari, Aidoo postgame – Florida 71, Arkansas 63

Published

1 day ago

January 11, 2025

Press Room

VIDEO: Calipari, Aidoo postgame – Florida 71, Arkansas 63

Watch the postgame press conference from Arkansas head coach John Calipari and center Jonas Aidoo after the 71-63 loss to Florida on Saturday afternoon at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville.

Visit our homepage for complete coverage of Arkansas basketball, including everything you need to know from the Hoop Hogs’ game.

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