Bonded by rehab: Season-ending injuries brought Arkansas football tight ends closer together

FAYETTEVILLE — Luke Hasz and Ty Washington were full of smiles inside the Broyles Complex media room Thursday night. The two Arkansas football tight ends are excited for the upcoming season, knowing they both had flashes of brilliance in 2023 and are parts of arguably the strongest position room on the Razorbacks' roster.

But the happy vibes are products of a difficult journey. Both players suffered season-ending injuries last season. Hasz went down with a broken collarbone in week five against Texas A&M, while Washington sustained a shoulder injury in the win over Florida.

According to Washington, both injuries came on the exact same offensive play call, separated by five weeks on the calendar. There's a cruel irony in how their seasons come to an end, but it set up an unexpected bond between the two tight ends.

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"I started to get a little bit depressed here and there after I got hurt, and I know (Hasz) went through the same thing a little bit here and there," Washington said. "Working from that standpoint and almost having like, we got hurt on the same play, almost the same drive, No. 3 play in the game. It was just like, we just had to work through it together."

Hasz recovery was quicker than Washington's, and the Oklahoma native was able to participate in spring football. Washington had to wait, making his official return to the practice fields Wednesday.

Washington feels fully recovered from a physical standpoint, but as he mentioned, the mental aspect of rehab was equally difficult. Hasz tried to keep the focus on the positives of their impending return.

"It kind of happened for a reason with both of us getting hurt because we were able to come together and get closer and just talk about things and things we can work on and look forward to," Hasz said. "I mean, I think it just created our bond together and the tight end room bond stronger."

They've now come out the other side and are gearing up for 2024. There are plenty of questions throughout the Arkansas roster after just two days of fall camp, but the tight ends can be a source of confidence for head coach Sam Pittman and offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino.

Hasz was on his way to being a freshman All-American with 15 catches for 239 yards and three touchdowns through four games.

Washington stepped up in his absence, collecting two touchdowns and 170 yards on 11 receptions across four games. Washington's rise was a surprise to many, but he felt all he needed was the opportunity to showcase his talents.

And there's even more depth behind them. Var'keyes Gumms is a transfer from North Texas entering his second year with the program. He set a handful of freshman records at North Texas and has looked much more comfortable in Petrino's offense this offseason. Andreas Paaske, a newcomer from Eastern Michigan, is considered the best blocker in the room.

Tight ends coach Morgan Turner said Thursday that all four tight ends need to be ready to contribute, and Arkansas will run plenty of plays in 12-personnel with two tight ends on the field.

Still, Hasz has the highest ceiling. Older players and coaches raved about him prior to his freshman season, and Turner said Hasz was still able to exceed their expectations. If he can stay healthy, Hasz figures to be one of the best offensive players on the roster, and the starting tight end isn't lacking any motivaton.

"He wants to be great," Turner said. "You can see it with the way he works but you can also feel it. He just has that desire and the way he lives his life reflects that."

This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Bonded by rehab: Season-ending injuries brought Arkansas football tight ends closer together