When Arkansas tight end Luke Hasz shocked everyone by entering the transfer portal, Hogs fans quickly latched onto two major theories: 1) Someone waved a fat stack of cash at him, or 2) He was frustrated with Bobby Petrino’s offense and how the Razorbacks weren’t using him enough. Let’s shut down that second theory once and for all because it’s completely off base.
While it seemed like Hasz wasn’t being utilized enough, especially dealing with a nagging back injury, the reality is far different, and it’s time to set the record straight. Despite being hobbled, Hasz still posted impressive numbers with 324 yards on 26 receptions, even though the Razorbacks kept pushing him through games when others might’ve rested. A healthy Hasz would’ve easily been one of the top receivers on the team. In fact, he ended up just two catches behind Isaac TeSlaa, who finished fourth.
So, if Hasz wasn’t being featured properly in Fayetteville, surely Ole Miss must’ve been giving him the spotlight he craved, right? Wrong. The Rebels’ top tight end, Caden Prieskorn, only had 24 catches for 375 yards—two fewer receptions than Hasz. Dae’Quan Wright, the other tight end, matched Prieskorn’s 24 catches and finished with 321 yards. Neither had more touchdowns than Hasz either. So, no—Hasz didn’t leave for a more featured role elsewhere.
When healthy, Hasz was a game-changer. He showed flashes of brilliance, including a monster game with four catches and two touchdowns against Mississippi State, plus five catches and a touchdown against Ole Miss. Even in the brutal snow at Missouri, he made his presence felt with three grabs. Had he been fully healthy, he would’ve likely been the go-to target in the offense.
Petrino and Sam Pittman showed they were committed to Hasz when he was at his best. The injuries limited him, but when he returned to form, they turned to him consistently. There’s no doubt that had Hasz stayed healthy, he would’ve been even more involved in the offense, and Petrino would’ve utilized him even more.
As for the rumors about money? The truth is no one knows exactly how much Ole Miss offered, but there’s no evidence that Hasz left for any kind of tight end revolution in Oxford. The grass wasn’t greener for him in terms of production, so let’s stop pretending it was.
Hasz’s transfer wasn’t about a lack of opportunity in Arkansas—it was about a player looking for a fresh start, and the reality is, his decision wasn’t driven by the playing time he got in the Razorbacks’ offense. Let’s get the facts straight.
