Arkansas Razorbacks transfer tight ends Var'Keyes Gumms, Ty Washington and Luke Hasz after Monday morning's practice on how position is developing under new offensive coordinator Dan Enos.
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00:00 Marquise and Francis, both of you guys,
00:01 just how have things been adjusting coming in,
00:04 I guess, a little bit later, but how things have been adjusting?
00:06 Where do you think they're going?
00:10 Me coming in, I just came in ready to work,
00:13 came in ready to adapt.
00:15 It's been good, as in coming in during the summertime,
00:18 got some good work, so I can learn the offense
00:21 and not going to fall camps,
00:23 going over to the Minnesota game
00:24 and still learning through here and getting better every day.
00:30 I mean, my adjustment has been a little bit different
00:32 because I had Coach Souders all last summer,
00:34 so I kind of knew what to expect there.
00:37 But other than that, it was a little bit frustrating,
00:40 kind of being a fifth-year guy,
00:42 having known the offense for the last four years
00:44 and going into summer,
00:45 kind of just focusing on the physical side of it.
00:49 And the summer has been very mentally challenging
00:51 trying to learn this offense.
00:53 But, I mean, I think, I don't know how,
00:56 but Coach Turner somehow got me to fall in love
00:57 with the Xs and the Os side of football.
01:00 And I'm really, I think, for the first time
01:01 in my football career, like, enjoying that part of it.
01:04 So, I mean, it's been a great transition.
01:08 In your touchdown in the bowl game,
01:11 kind of a springboard, I guess, maybe, for you into the spring.
01:14 How have you come along?
01:16 I know that, like I said, springboard you a lot in spring,
01:18 but how, since the spring,
01:20 where have been your biggest areas of development?
01:24 Since that touchdown, I think, really,
01:25 it was a confident booster.
01:27 But, really, I've been trying to, like,
01:28 get it in the past, got to move to the future.
01:32 And right now, I've just been focusing on finishing catches,
01:34 finishing blocks, putting people on the ground,
01:37 and just being more physical and leading the way for other guys
01:39 and being a better leader all around for transfers,
01:42 freshmen, whoever's here, just trying to be a leader.
01:45 Backs here right now, but back going to be here next year.
01:47 I'm trying to be that guy for the guys when they're not here.
01:51 Cyrus, for you, I mean, Coach Turner, it's his first year.
01:54 What have you picked up from him
01:56 that maybe has been a little bit different
01:57 from what you learned last year?
01:59 A lot of more details.
02:00 I think details are very, like, big in the game.
02:03 Like, I know our last offense,
02:04 they'll tell you, like, go get that guy.
02:07 But, like, this one, they'll tell you how to get to that guy,
02:09 how to combo to that guy,
02:10 or, like, help you tackle and get to that guy.
02:13 It's just a lot of more small details
02:14 that he knows about the game that helps,
02:16 like, makes it easier and helps the offense better
02:18 and helps everyone else better.
02:20 And then last year, you kind of had an interesting situation
02:23 with the red shirt,
02:24 where you were able to play in the bowl game.
02:26 What was that situation like,
02:28 where you asked for the red shirt,
02:29 and then when you found out,
02:30 you were going to get to play in the bowl game?
02:32 I think I was happy.
02:33 I actually called my mom and told her, like,
02:35 after I was done playing the game,
02:36 and Pittman was talking to me up in the waiting room
02:38 and stuff about it.
02:39 And then he told Morgan that I could play,
02:41 and Morgan and I lit up.
02:42 And then it was just a great moment,
02:44 knowing I could showcase what I could do.
02:47 Martiz and Francis, Morgan was just here saying
02:50 that you guys kind of fell in love
02:51 or this place surprised you.
02:53 What was it that surprised you when you got here
02:55 and made you want to come?
02:57 I mean, have you ever interacted with Coach Pittman?
03:00 Yeah, there you go.
03:03 Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.
03:04 Coach Pittman and just -- I had just saw the offense,
03:07 and I was like, yeah, this has got to be the place for tight ends.
03:10 And it fit tight ends well.
03:12 And Morgan also said something about the returning guys,
03:17 when these two and Luke comes in and Shamar,
03:21 that you guys welcomed.
03:22 Maybe talk about what your mentality was on --
03:24 [inaudible]
03:27 I think big, big, just focus on myself,
03:30 because I don't like --
03:32 a lot of people get caught up in who's coming in
03:33 or whatever that.
03:35 Just focus on yourself and most likely
03:36 to help the team better, to be honest.
03:38 Like, they coming in, you got to help them.
03:39 Either way, it can't just be two tight ends on the field.
03:42 We run a lot of 12 personnel,
03:43 so we're going to rotate either way.
03:45 So how I feel about it, they focus on themselves.
03:48 If they need help, I got them, or I help them.
03:50 Anyway, it's just a brotherhood.
03:52 So I'm really nice.
03:54 Hi.
03:55 [inaudible]
03:58 I'm talking about the passing game.
04:00 Is that something you're looking forward to
04:01 with that whole screw now?
04:02 Most definitely. Most definitely.
04:04 Like to see the ball a little bit more?
04:06 Oh, yeah, most definitely. Most definitely.
04:07 I think every tight end likes to get one take
04:09 at least a little bit, you know.
04:10 So it should be great.
04:11 This offense, I think it's going to be great
04:13 to start in blocking and passing.
04:16 Marquise, yesterday, KJ was in here Saturday.
04:19 He praised you.
04:20 He talked about you.
04:21 He can tell you played a lot of football,
04:23 you know, and stuff.
04:24 Talk about KJ as a quarterback,
04:26 how it's been catching passes from him.
04:29 KJ, he's real accurate with the ball.
04:33 So he's like, he can see the whole field
04:35 because he's like six foot.
04:36 So he can see the whole field,
04:38 real accurate with the ball.
04:40 I'm just getting in, just keep trying to learn the offense
04:43 and keep learning the offense, getting better every day.
04:47 What's KJ like to wear on?
04:48 He's weird seeing a quarterback bigger than me.
04:51 I mean, that's the first thing.
04:52 But I mean, you can just tell he knows what he's doing.
04:55 And then, I mean, earlier on in summer,
04:57 I didn't really know what I was doing.
04:58 And every time I asked him, he told me easily what to do.
05:01 He knew exactly what to do.
05:02 And he wasn't like demeaning about it.
05:05 He kind of understood that, hey, I've been here
05:06 for a week and a half and I don't really know anybody.
05:08 But he was always very eager to help
05:11 and kind of take that extra mile.
05:14 Francis, I'm curious how or in what ways Coach Turner
05:20 kind of helped you fall in love with the X's
05:22 and O's of the offense.
05:24 And what would you kind of classify your strengths as?
05:28 I mean, I'm pretty sure like Coach Pittman has said
05:31 that they brought me here to block
05:33 and kind of do what I've done a lot of in the past
05:35 and kind of help these guys and show them
05:38 how to kind of get nasty down there in the trenches.
05:40 But I mean, I honestly don't know how Coach Turner did it.
05:43 I think it's just the way that he teaches
05:46 and he goes from like such small details
05:48 to the point where all of a sudden it's like light bulb
05:50 goes off and you see the whole picture for gap scheme,
05:52 zone scheme, whatever it is.
05:54 And I've kind of just - I guess I've just fallen in love with it.
05:58 And it's not like the meetings where you sit through
06:01 and they drag on and they drag on.
06:02 All of a sudden the horn goes off and I'm like,
06:04 oh, wow, and I'll reach the top.
06:06 And it's - I mean, I think the other guys will vouch for that.
06:08 And it's been a good camp so far in that regard.
06:12 Mark, you were very productive catching the ball at North Tech.
06:17 Do you feel like it's realistic to put up similar numbers here?
06:20 How do you feel about that?
06:22 Yes, sir.
06:23 I feel like I can put away more numbers than I did
06:25 on the Texas Chiefs coach.
06:26 The way Coach Eno's called the game plan
06:29 and the way this offense is made around tight end,
06:31 I can see myself going to the late-inning.
06:35 What's financial difficulty for freshmen?
06:39 Maybe if each of you - maybe you can start.
06:42 Frank, what's your take on Luke,
06:44 what he brings to the room, how he's doing?
06:49 I don't know that I've ever seen a freshman,
06:51 let alone a tight end, with just like the talent that Luke has.
06:55 So, I mean, I don't know.
06:57 He's obviously the best freshman tight end I've ever seen.
07:00 And he may very well likely be the best tight end
07:03 in general that I've ever seen.
07:04 I think the sky's the limit for that kid.
07:06 And he brings it every day with his work ethic.
07:08 And I think it would be really easy for a kid
07:10 with as much natural talent as him
07:11 to kind of take a step back in the weight room
07:14 or maybe not be responsible outside of here.
07:16 And he's - he's got the mentality of a fifth-year.
07:20 So, I think the sky really is the limit for him.
07:23 Me and Luke are - Luke's special.
07:25 He real special.
07:27 He the first - the first, like, freshman that I saw
07:31 that really just goes out there and gives his best
07:35 and looks like he's, like, he's been in this for, like,
07:38 three years or four years.
07:40 Like, he looks comfortable out there.
07:42 I say that every time, like, every day I say,
07:45 see, Luke, he's special, real special.
07:47 And he sure is, like, having a big year this year.
07:50 We'll take it back off on that.
07:52 But if it falls in the air, he's going to go get it,
07:54 regardless, and if it's one-on-one, he's going to win.
07:58 Is Devin on his brother much in practice?
08:00 And if so, what's - what's your take on Devin?
08:03 If you haven't faced him, don't worry about it.
08:05 He's a physical dude.
08:07 Like, he's - he's smaller than Mike.
08:08 Like, he brings a punch to him, for real.
08:10 And I know him and Luke, you know,
08:11 went after him in practice a lot when they, like,
08:13 see each other, like, a brother thing.
08:15 It's funny.
08:16 But Dylan - Dylan's getting there.
08:18 He's a real dog.
08:20 Dylan with a broken hand.
08:22 Yeah.
08:23 What'd you think about that?
08:24 He used that club a lot.
08:27 He used that club to get off and block and stab.
08:30 Whatever he had to do, he used it.
08:32 He was doing his thing with it.
08:34 He used your advantage.
08:36 And, Francis, I know you didn't catch a lot of balls
08:38 at Louisville.
08:40 You just talked about your team here
08:42 to get masked in the trenches.
08:43 But you think maybe you could be -
08:45 maybe an underage receiver,
08:46 maybe surprising folks with your - with your passing game?
08:49 Oh, 100 percent.
08:50 I do think I'm a lot more athletic
08:51 than I've showcased in the past.
08:53 And I think that these coaches are -
08:57 have been kind of surprised at what I've been able
08:59 to do in the passing game because, I mean,
09:01 there's not much of it on film.
09:02 But I do look forward to, if they call for it,
09:06 me getting the ball in my hands.
09:07 But, I mean, I'm just going to do whatever they ask me to.
09:12 Connor's kind of resume speaks for itself a little bit.
09:14 But what were some of your -
09:15 y'all's first impressions of him when you met him?
09:17 And was there, like, kind of an immediate respect factor
09:21 just with the guys that he's kind of put into the league?
09:26 Yes, I like to say when I first met him,
09:28 actually sat in his office,
09:29 and I asked him, because he personally -
09:31 I like when coaches - I get coaches yell a lot.
09:34 And, like, they're trying to coach you hard.
09:35 But, like, to a certain extent,
09:37 where they need to just get the message across.
09:39 And he told me, he was like, I don't yell.
09:40 He was like, I'm going to just tell you what to do and do it.
09:43 If you can't do it, you can't do it.
09:44 If you can't, you can't. And I respect that.
09:46 That's just big to me.
09:47 Like, me personally, I feel like you can yell.
09:50 But, like, sometimes you just need to -
09:52 all players are different.
09:53 So sometimes you just need to actually just communicate
09:54 and talk normally.
09:56 And he's that. He's great. I love him.
09:58 I love him.
09:59 Yeah, and piggybacking on what Ty said,
10:01 he's more of a teacher instead of a yeller.
10:04 He teaches first.
10:05 He don't do too much yelling, too.
10:07 When he teaches, too, you should get it,
10:10 by then you shouldn't make the same mistake again.
10:13 You were one of the higher-ranked guys in the portal.
10:18 Just what sold you on Arkansas?
10:20 What sold me on Arkansas was - it was a lot.
10:23 Coming out of high school,
10:25 I had some big offense that they pulled away from
10:29 that I panned on seeing during the season.
10:35 So, and then, as we begin,
10:37 his offense is just perfect for tight end.
10:40 And then it kind of fit the offense that I came from
10:42 with at North Texas,
10:45 with Stephon Charles, with the two tight end sets.
10:49 Tyrus, you were here in the spring when you got to see Luke.
10:53 I think he's put on some weight.
10:54 Where have you seen him grow the most since the spring?
10:58 I like to say passing guys,
10:59 they're just like, they're good now.
11:02 When he runs the route, they kind of bounce off.
11:03 If he, like, gets more wins or something,
11:05 he can actually, like, get more throws
11:07 and look a little bit more better.
11:08 Which just helps him to be better,
11:09 to get open and catch balls.
11:11 It just makes him better.
11:13 Any defense, like, can't beat the work.
11:14 We're going to put it to him regardless.
11:18 Ty, what have you seen from the revamped secondary right now?
11:22 Obviously, a lot of newcomers there.
11:24 I know you guys might not go directly against them
11:26 as tight ends, but what are you seeing
11:28 from their development right now?
11:31 Say, that secondary offense, the scrimmage there,
11:35 they can go. They're real. I think they're deadly, for real.
11:38 But I see guys flying around.
11:40 They rotate guys a lot.
11:41 It's just, we didn't have that last year.
11:43 Yeah, if somebody went down,
11:45 it was hard to, like, put somebody in
11:47 that could do the same thing this year.
11:49 It's like you got somebody else coming in
11:50 that just is really better, to be honest.
11:52 So I think we're going to be, either way,
11:55 the defense is going to be,
11:56 and I think they're going to be real good.
11:58 They know it.
12:00 Jenkins, I'm curious, the nasty streak side of your game,
12:03 or part of your game, where did that come from?
12:05 Or has it just kind of always been a part of you?
12:08 I mean, probably my junior and senior year,
12:10 I sit on my bed crying that nobody
12:12 wanted to give me an opportunity.
12:14 So, I mean, I think I go out there every time
12:16 with a little bit of a chip in my shoulder.
12:19 And kind of, like Keith said, I got some stuff
12:23 that I want to be able to cross off on the list
12:25 and kind of make people regret a lot of decisions they made.
12:28 And, I mean, I'm in the SEC West now,
12:31 and there's no better place to do it.
12:32 When you got in the portal, by two schools,
12:36 was there a new team?
12:38 A lot more schools than I thought.
12:40 I mean, I think I'll just leave it at that.
12:42 I think it was a good time to be a tight end
12:43 and get in the portal.
12:45 But, I mean, Coach Pitman called me to change the system,
12:48 and that's kind of how it went from there.
12:51 I guess, I mean, and some tight ends
12:52 are kind of on our offensive line.
12:54 I know you guys want to catch fast,
12:55 but what's your take on the offensive line
12:59 through the two camps so far?
13:02 I know we got one young guy, Kudas.
13:06 He is doing his-- I think he just turned 19 last weekend.
13:11 Yeah, he turned 19, he's been 18 playing like that.
13:14 He's a big kid, and that's wild to me.
13:17 And then the older guys are helping lead the way
13:18 for the like twos coming in.
13:20 And it's just going to be great, I think,
13:22 with the two we got experience also.
13:24 I think the O-line is going to be solid all around.