FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas has a healthy Luke Hasz at tight end this fall and thus they have one of the best in the nation at that position.
Hasz caught three passes for 42 yards in the season opener over UAPB. Last season, he grabbed 16 passes for 253 yards and three touchdowns before being hurt on the first play of the Texas A&M game. On Saturday the former Bixby standout will return to his home state to face Oklahoma State.
"It’s definitely exciting," Hasz said. "I have a lot of former teammates on their team from high school. Just being able to go back to Oklahoma where my family’s at, and just a lot of people I know, it’ll be exciting. This past weekend was exciting too, but I’m definitely excited to get there and play in my home state."
The recruiting process started for real at the end of Hasz's sophomore year when Oklahoma State offered him a scholarship.
"Yes, they were actually my first offer in high school," Hasz said. "It was early on, so I was just kind of still taking in the recruiting process. That was pretty much it."
Hasz said he visited Oklahoma State a couple of times with teammates who were going there though the Cowboys weren't one of his top schools. He and twin brother Dylan Hasz returning to Oklahoma this week thus they must be trying to get a lot of tickets for family and friends?
"That’s a Mom question for me," Hasz said. "I’m not really in charge of that stuff. She kind of takes over with all the ticket stuff. I’d say probably around 8, 10 maybe."
Hasz is hoping for a big game with even friends on the Oklahoma State team and family in the stands.
"Last week, it felt good to get back out there, especially just with our teammates and the new teammates too," Hasz said. "It was just exciting. It's really fun to play with our offensive line and the tight ends in our room. We all compete and really want each other to succeed. It was cool to see Ty (Washington) out there get a nice touchdown thrown from Taylen (Green), who played amazing too. I was just definitely really excited to get back out there and play an actual game instead of practice. This next one will be probably even more exciting."
Hasz downplayed the game Saturday being emotional.
"It won’t really be emotional because I wasn’t very interested in Oklahoma State, but I was grateful that they offered me," Hasz said. "I’d say it’s more like a business trip just like any other game though, same as last week. We’re going to go in there, we’ve prepared for them well this week, and our coaches have a good gameplan with us watching film against them. We’re just going to go in there like it’s a business trip like any other week."
Hasz was highly recruited out of high school and eventually chose the Hogs over Alabama among others. On Tuesday, he talked about how he has gotten better at Arkansas and things he needs to work on the most still.
"I’d say blocking and physicality, that’s something I still need to improve on," Hasz said. "But Coach (Morgan) Turner has done a great job like I said. With our footwork and stuff, he’s been helping me a lot with using my size to my advantage. I’d say having the guys come in like Keyes (Gumms) and Andreas (Paaske), Ty, he’s been here. But all us pushing together to be better each and every day."
Hasz feels he and Green, the new quarterback from Boise State, have a good connection and he praised his new teammate for making sure that was the case early on.
"I'd say Taylen’s done a great job since we got here, really getting all of us in sync with him and having chemistry," Hasz said. "You could tell last game that he's getting everyone involved and he's just a great guy on and off the field.
"I think he has a chance to be the best in the country. You can see just his potential and the way he works and the way he studies the game and just how he's a leader, most of all."
Despite a 70-0 win in the opener, many still have doubts about this team. Hasz feels a win over Oklahoma State would hush some of the critics.
"I’d say it’s just a great opportunity for us to show all the work we’ve done in the offseason and how we really came together as a team, on and off the field," Hasz said. "So it’ll be exciting for us."
Arkansas and Oklahoma State will kickoff at 11 a.m. on Saturday with the game televised on ABC.
