Arkansas Players Press Conference - Luke Hasz, Ty Washington, Var'Keyes Gumms

yeah just first off uh for all you guys just how the first couple days of practice been uh nice to be inside today what was yesterday like out in the heat um I'd say the first two days have been really good we still got a lot to work on but I feel like you can tell this year that our team is more together and especially in the tied end room with all the guy me so many guys competing and there's a bunch of opportunities for us to play and the heat I mean it's definitely been challenging but it's been it's been good for us uh as in trans transition in the indoor today oh yeah yeah I like that compared to yesterday outside in that heat oh yeah Luke and Ty just what was you know going through the injury recovery process like how was how nice it to be back and did you guys you know help each other at all both being injured I mean what was it kind of going through that together uh I know that me and Luke talked a little bit cuz like I started to get a little bit depressed here and there after I got hurt and I know he went through the same thing a little bit here and there and so just working from that standpoint and almost having like we got hurt on the same play same like almost same Drive number three play in the game it was just like we just had to work through it together and like coming back from it I think I know my injury was longer than his but like the um our physical um trainers and stuff were great I know I work with Tam personally so it was like they were always there for us like mentally and physically um I'd say yeah it was kind of like a cool coincidence and you could tell that kind of happened for a reason uh with both of us getting hurt because we were able to come together and get closer and just talk about things and like things we can work on and look forward to and I mean I think it just created our bond together and the tight end room Bond stronger and now I think we had a just a great time working back and we're definitely both excited to be back out there oh yeah Ty you said obviously your injury recovery was pretty long just what was the most challenging part of that recovery process trying to move my arm oh when I got out of surgery I couldn't move like my um like you got to regain movement back and it hurts bad like trying to move it and crank your arm back like I know the cham used to call it cranking it like trying to like crank your arm to get it back right and how it's supposed to move that was probably the hardest part it was painful but we bet us so now that you're back I mean just what level do you feel like you're at and what do you feel like you need to do to kind of pick up where you left off oh I feel like I'm back to be honest after that first hit yesterday I was smiling because I was like okay we backing at it so I feel like I'm back ready to go vares what's been the difference for you I mean you got here and you're very highly regarded set a lot of records at North Texas played some last year but what we saw in the spring looked like a different player and I assume you carried that over to fall Camp what's what's changed and why do you think you got off to kind of a slow start uh I just feel like uh coming in was kind of rough for me uh as like the transition and just the transfer portal in general so I had like stuff going on behind there but soon I got in and started to be around the players more and be around the coaches more and then patrino came in with his offense cool he a cool coach so um yeah when when you got first you know really started getting a lot of action is after Luke went down you guys kind of had auditions and all this stuff and you caught five passes I think in that first drive and a touchdown where you just like where's this been like what was your mindset when you really got going like that if you want me to be honest I knew I could do it I just had to wait really on my opportunity to do it but like I knew it I knew it was there going into the game I knew it was there I had the confidence sorry you guys bares you commented on a little bit but you guys like working in this offense coach Turner said it's asking you to do a lot of stuff that Pro tight ends do just kind of all you guys uh I feel like learning this offense you you will be like ready for the pros because it's so much like uh similarity between the offense we have and the same offense they running the pros so I feel like if we can get that down pack even if we can just get it down pack like I feel like I like our offense in general would be dangerous yeah same question for you guys how's how's the offense different with patrino at the controls um I'd say a big thing is like the communication that we have now and it just allows us to make calls and checks um to like help better help the offense and then um I just think it really helps like with taen being able to step up and be a leader on the field even though he is off the field but him just being able to take over the game and notice tendencies in the defense and allow us to have success TI Roo maybe how's it changeed uh I wouldn't say it changed much I say we more closer and I say that we stepping up more into the offense it's more 12 Personnel more we got 13 Personnel in also but to be honest it's a lot of room for everybody to play and the Titans going to get the ball and we got a block so it's just great any you guys want to take this you know Ton's been here a while now I'm sure he led workouts over the summer just kind of what's your all's take on him now that he's been here a while what impact on the field and off the field as well I say he came in like he came in with confidence usually quarterbacks don't come in with that much confidence until they like actually start throwing the ball and stuff like that but when we start throwing before Springs started I know with these guys they were throwing he was very confident very vocal and telling them the routes and start telling them what to do and that's very different I ain't never seen that before really you guys want to weigh in what your thoughts on on tayor yeah yeah uh piggy backing off of T he did come in with confidence he came in ready to work with us uh he um he connected with all the position groups we go throw on the field every other day so yeah great leader yeah I would just kind of say what they said he has like a really good Pro mindset and with that comes like leadership not just with it being on the field but off the field too just constantly checking in on people and um he's not shy that's a big thing for quarterbacks and he's not afraid to talk and um just he's not by himself all the time like he's always around the guys talking to him so I mean it's awesome we went bowling a lot who's who's the best bowler oh probably me uh wait up here up me not me up here probably me now if we talk about the receivers and Drew and toam I ain't going cu they get to going all day I I just go to another Lane look heard you got um engag you my insurance some details fiance's name how you guys met how long you been going out wedding date I got this i got this one um her name is MJ McConnell right now no I'm just playing no she's awesome and she's been a really big part of My Success since I've got here um just with maturing and and then us being able to grow together and strengthen our relationship with the Lord and with each other and it's definitely I mean you can kind of ask him like it's helped me in football and then know the engagement process was awesome I had coach Turner uh call me after dinner and say I had a recruit to come talk to up at the stadium and she had H she kind of had an idea but not really and we walked out there and did on the 50 yard line so it was really special to do out there that was when about that was Monday Monday Monday just Monday yes wow okay and do you guys have a wedding date yet we're still still working on yeah we gonna be in there we there we is there uh really just for any of you guys uh can you just talk about Andreas pushka just kind of working with him what has he kind of brought to the team so far since he's uh since he's been on campus I know I've learned a lot from him personally like blocking being more physical and stuff like that I know he weighs more than me but he's like steps and everything is very good like I wouldn't compare him to backs but he's very he's a very good player and I've learned a lot from him to be honest yeah I'd say since he's came in here he's a really hard worker like he is know the grindstone every day and just his attitude too like he's we joke around and are happy all the time then we'll get in there and get serious and he's really serious about the Playbook and you can just tell that he really really wants it yeah pick back off Luke say he do show that he really really wants it uh he he uh gets in with the o line he wants to go watch film all the time he want to go through the script so yeah he shows that he really really do want it though great job yeah for all three of you guys what would a successful season look like for you guys individually as well as for the unit of the tight ends what winning I think that'll be mine I just want I just want to win personally come together stay consistent on what we gonna do do the assignment we'll have good results if we do that most done I feel like our defense gonna come and back us up so I would say to have fun and you can you'll tell this year that our team is more together and I mean we have amazing offense coordinator and a great head coach so I mean it'll be fun this year and we're excited to go out there and win games God youate