Hogs lose Luke Hasz to portal; will anybody be left to catch passes?

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Maybe the coaches knew it, but when the social media dropped that tight end Luke Hasz has decided to enter the transfer portal, most Arkansas fans were, well, surprised. Maybe shocked for some.

After playing in all 12 games during the Razorbacks’ 6-6 season, Hasz caught 26 passes for 324 yards and four touchdowns. When the Hogs find out their bowl fate next week, wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa will be the leading receiver available for quarterback Taylen Green.

Through prayer and conversations with my fiancé, parents and God, I have decided to enter the transfer portal. I can not thank Coach Pittman and Coach Turner enough.
Arkansas will forever hold a place in my heart! pic.twitter.com/Ub0XRp6DHw

— Luke Hasz (@LukeHasz5) December 6, 2024

The top three receivers, Andrew Armstrong, Isaiah Sategna and now Hasz, are either getting ready for the NFL Draft or in the transfer portal. While there is always the possibility players in the portal could return to Arkansas, that is a tiny number that do that.

Part of the whole issue that’s the way things are going these days in the world of free agency in college football. The other reasons behind it we don’t know right now.

With Hogs coach Sam Pittman recuperating from hip replacement surgery earlier this week, we’re not going to hear from him about it, either. Let’s not start acting like it’s the end of the world, either. It’s not really new with the Razorbacks having nearly half the roster turning over each year.

This does open opportunities for other players on the roster along with an incoming group of receivers for the second year of Bobby Petrino’s offense. In the past, we’ve seen that improve each year as the players develop in the system, but there is no baseline to how that progresses with the transfer portal now.

Green is expected to return for his second season, but we saw at times the offense struggling passing after he lost his top receivers last season. Armstrong emerged as the No. 1 receiver and piled up a lot of yards, primarily on crossing routes and led the SEC in total yards, but scored just one touchdown. They still need playmakers at the receiver position going forward.

It’s early in the process and we don’t know the receivers they will be able to pick up out of the portal.

Departing Transfers

• TE Luke Hasz
• TE Ty Washington
• TE Var’Keyes Gumms
• WR Jaedson Wilson
• WR Isaiah Sategna
• WR Davion Dozier
• OL Patrick Kutas
• OL Amaury Wiggins
• QB Malachi Singleton