Lemming: Hasz able to shine in Arkansas offense

When Arkansas freshman tight end Luke Hasz met with veteran national recruiting analyst Tom Lemming during his recruiting process, Lemming gushed over his potential.

Hasz, a former Bixby (Okla.) High School standout, was committed to Oklahoma at the time of his meeting with Lemming, but he eventually re-opened his recruitment.

Hasz went on to choose the Razorbacks over scholarship offers from Oklahoma State, Baylor, Florida State, Southern Cal, Kansas, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State and other programs in January of his junior year.

He is second on the team for receptions (15) and receiving yards (239) after four games. Hasz is tied with receiver Andrew Armstrong for the team lead in touchdowns catches with three.

Hasz led the Razorbacks with 116 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns on 6 catches in the 34-31 loss to LSU last Saturday. His early season play has Arkansas fans thinking big things could be on the horizon for the former 4-star prospect.

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Lemming, who works for CBS Sports Network, has been scouting high school talent since 1978. He recalls seeing Hasz and being reminded of another top tight end from the class of 2021.

“I was really impressed with him,” Lemming said. “He gets up and gets the ball at its highest point. At the time, he reminded me of Brock Bowers, who was also not super big in high school. He has a similar style of Brock in high school and Brock became a superstar at Georgia.”

Bowers was listed at 6-3 and 225 pounds coming out of Napa High School in California. Hasz was 6-3 and 221 pounds at Bixby.

Hasz enrolled at Arkansas in January, added weight and is now listed at 242 pounds.

“He ran an 11-flat 100 meters, so that caught my attention right away with somebody that big,” Lemming said of Hasz. “That means he has brilliant speed for a tight end. He had a 33-inch vertical, which is real good. He was already benching over 300.

“His dad played [football] at Tulsa. He had all the things with the bloodlines and the great athletic ability. He was just a big-time talent.”

Lemming rated Hasz a 4-star-plus recruit, just shy of 5-star status, and named him to his prestigious All-America team.

“Good size, excellent runner after the catch, a natural receiver,” Lemming said. “He could also play wide receiver. He was that athletic. He’s not a real big tight end, but the kind people are using now.

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“They’re very athletic almost like between wide receivers and tight ends.”

During Arkansas offensive coordinator Dan Enos’ first tenure at Arkansas in 2015-17, Hunter Henry won the Mackey Award as the nation’s the most outstanding tight end. Henry and fellow tight end Jeremy Sprinkle were second-round and fifth-round draft picks, respectively.

Hasz picked the right offense to showcase his talents, Lemming added.

“It also comes down to getting a chance to play,” Lemming said. “You have to have a quarterback that’s comfortable throwing the ball to him instead of all the wide receivers and running backs. Brock Bowers went into a great situation at Georgia, and last year Mike Mayer at Notre Dame, he was the premier receiver.

“That’s the key. Sometimes folks never throw to the tight end.”