FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas' offense is expected to be vastly improved this fall and one spot expected to be very good is tight end.

Morgan Turner is the only returning offensive assistant from last season. He has such standouts as Luke Hasz, Ty Washington and Var'keyes Gumms. He was asked about how the group has improved even since the spring and last season.

"I mean, you have a year of growth from all of them," Turner said. "With that, maturity, strength, seed, quickness. I mean, all the time they’ve been putting in the weight room, it’s showing — and then the confidence that comes with that too. Plus, it’s another year of learning the college playbook. We obviously changed the offense, but once you learn one, like learning a new language, it’s just translating it. So, it’s not just a shock when we’re checking plays now. They’ve been there and done that. I can see them picking it up quick and picking it up really well and embracing and doing a nice job."

Gumms was a transfer from North Texas last season who only caught three passes for 26 yards. In the spring, Gumms looked like a different player.

"Like you said, he’s just gotten more comfortable," Turner said. "He’s grown up. Another year here. He was here last year. He came in the summer with all the new people. Now like, alright, he’s enjoying it. He’s having fun. He’s comfortable with it, and it’s showing on the field."

When Hasz went down against Texas A&M, Washington stepped up until he too was injured. Washington had 11 receptions for 170 yards and two touchdowns.

"He did a great job in his recovery," Turner said of Washington. "He worked really, really hard in the training room and in the weight room. He came back, he’s as good as before. He put in that much work. He’s had a really good two days so far, but we strap on the pads tomorrow, so we’ve got to keep it going."

Turner feels that Hasz has really spent the past year wisely as far as recovering from the injury and developing.

"His dedication has been unbelievable," Turner said. "I mean, he’s on the smaller side but he’s put in the time, he’s added weight, added strength. I think he’s in great shape, he’s lean. He wants to be great. 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."

Hasz caught 16 passes for 259 yards and three touchdowns before exiting against the Aggies. Turner likes what he has seen from the time Hasz was injured until now.

"Just continue to grow," Turner said. "Learning the details of the offense. It’s not just running around and getting open, not that he didn’t do that last year but even just being on the details more, and he wants to be involved in the run game. He wants to do everything. It’s really fun to work with a player like that, I can coach him hard. I can ask him to do anything and he’s going to do it because he wants to, he wants to be great."

The offense has a new coordinator in Bobby Petrino. How has the role for tight end changed under Petrino?

"I don’t want to get into how it tweaked or changed, but right now it’s been really fun because we’re doing a ton and we’re learning a lot of different things," Turner said. "This is what they’re doing at the next level. The guys love it and they get excited about that. From checks and shifts and motions and them making calls and then them helping us get in the right place, they’re excited about it and they’re embracing it."

Turner also talked about what it has been to coach with Petrino who has an outstanding reputation as a play caller.

"Yeah, it’s been really fun listening to him talk about why we’re running this play, how it affects the defense, what the defense is doing to stop our run game and what the answers (are) we have there," Turner said. "It’s been neat to see that. I haven’t been in a ton of different offenses, but it’s been good to see what he’s brought in from all over the place everywhere he’s been and how it fits into his offense. It’s been really good."

Arkansas will practice both Friday and Saturday at 5 p.m. before having morning practices going forward.

Photos Courtesy of Craven Whitlow CW3 Sports Action