Sports

Despite trying debut at Ole Miss, staying with Rebels was 'a no brainer' for Luke Hasz

OXFORD – Last season wasn't what Ole Miss senior tight end Luke Hasz had envisioned when he signed on to play in the Rebels' high-flying offense. But the Bixby, Oklahoma native feels good about his chances in 2026-27.

After spending his first two seasons at Arkansas, Hasz came to Ole Miss as one of the top pieces of it highly touted 2025 transfer portal class. Hasz started 10 games for the Razorbacks in 2024 and caught 26 passes for 324 yards and four touchdowns. He was the No. 2 tight end in the transfer portal and was Ole Miss' third-highest rated transfer overall, per 247Sports.

The 2025 season didn't go according to plan for Hasz.

A foot injury largely derailed Hasz's debut campaign in Oxford. He missed the first two games of the season but returned to face Arkansas in Week 3, admitting he probably returned "a little too early" to try and face his old school. Hasz also missed the first game after the bye week against Washington State. He finished the 2025-26 season with three receptions for 28 yards and a touchdown in 12 games, though he made his lone score of the season count – a 3-yard touchdown grab against Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.

Hasz admits 2025 was tough and unlike anything he had been through in his career. A rare seat on the sideline did, however, allow him to learn from teammates like Dae'Quan Wright. Wright caught 39 passes for 635 yards and five touchdowns and is likely to be selected in this month's NFL Draft.

"It was a learning experience. It was something that, personally, I hadn't been through quite yet. But it was something that I definitely needed," Hasz said. " … With everything, with ups and downs, you're going to be able to take that and learn something. And I feel like I learned a lot last year just with my situation. But I feel like it ultimately made me stronger and able to deal with adversity and just keep working."

As was the case with current teammate and fellow former Razorback Patrick Kutas, leaving Ole Miss in the offseason was not an option despite constant transferring being the new norm in college football. Hasz is healthy and feels a camaraderie in the tight end room – which is headlined by himself, junior returner Caleb Odom and sophomore transfers Michael Smith (South Carolina) and Brady Prieskorn (Michigan) – he couldn't leave behind.

"I don't like leaving. I had a hard time even last year leaving Arkansas," Hasz said. " … You build a relationship with guys – even though nowadays people are leaving constantly – but that tight end room, those are like my brothers since last year. I didn't want to leave them, and I just felt something special about this place.

… All the pieces were put in place. It was just, it felt like a no brainer."

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