Another Tight End Injury: Morgan Turner Called Upon Again

First-year Hogs' coach has to dig deeper down the depth chart after Washington hurt

Author:
Daniel Shi
Updated:
Nov 7, 2023 11:42 AM EST
Original:
Nov 6, 2023

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Next man up.

Arkansas coach Sam Pittman announced Monday that Ty Washington, who has been a productive replacement for Luke Hasz at tight end the last few weeks, suffered a season-ending shoulder dislocation against Florida that requires season-ending surgery. That sends tight ends coach Morgan Turner back to square one, once again needing to dig deeper down the depth chart to replace lost production. Still, it's a task Pittman has confidence can be completed yet again.

"I think he is a good teacher," Pittman said. "That’s the first thing. We hired for a reason, because he was at Stanford for so long and had so many different guys and so many of them played well .... You have to have that next guy ready to play, and he’s done a really good job with that. I anticipate him doing it again, but I think it’s just his demeanor and his ability to teach and motivate."

Despite the most recent 39-36 overtime triumph over the Florida Gators, this is an Arkansas team that has struggled with offensive depth all season. The Razorbacks spent the entire SEC slate with only six offensive linemen. Ty’Kieast Crawford played his first offensive snap since Week 2 because of the injury to Patrick Kutas.

The Razorbacks have also relied on the same receivers. Only in recent weeks has Isaiah Sategna's production seen a slight uptick. Even with his season-high 22 yards against the Gators, his season total stands at 11 catches for 55 yards.

The one shining light on offense has been the production of the tight ends. Hasz is still second in receiving despite breaking his clavicle on the third play against Texas A&M way back in September. Washington quickly replaced the production, garnering 170 yards in four games, a mark good enough for fourth-best on the team. Tight ends account for roughly 25% of the Razorbacks' production in the passing game.

Much of the success can be attributed to Turner, who is in his first season at Arkansas. He spent the previous decade coaching tight ends at Stanford. His long line of NFL tight ends includes four tight ends currently playing in the NFL (Austin Hooper, Zach Ertz, Colby Parkinson and Dalton Schultz).

Turner will need to search the scout team to find new life at the position. Three Arkansas natives will be vetted to determine who will best fit alongside transfers Var'Keyes Gumms and Francis Sherman. One is redshirt freshman Hunter Talley. The converted former quarterback from Siloam Springs spent all last season learning the position.

"One of those guys will really show up," Pittman said. "It may be two or three of them. I’m confident in that group and I’m confident in Talley. I’d like to see what he can do. He’s been very, very physical on scout team."

Warren native Maddox Lassiter, who Pittman has routinely name-dropped in press conferences as a potential candidate on special teams prior to Washington's injury now has an opening to see time on the field both as a tight end and in the return game. Shamar Easter, a 4-star recruit who didn't join a large chunk of the freshman class in reporting in January, is another name in the conversation.

The answer to how Arkansas approaches replacing the production of Washington will be revealed Saturday at 3 p.m. as the Razorbacks attempt to pull of their first SEC winning streak since 2021 when Hugh Freeze and the Auburn Tigers come to Fayetteville. The game will be broadcast on SEC Network and fuboTV.