Today we’re finishing off our list of freshman tight ends, and we’ve saved the very best one until last. Duce Robinson was one of the most popular recruits in the country for the last year and change, and was ranked the consensus number one tight end in the country.
Robinson eventually committed to USC after staying very quiet about his decision until it came. Texas, Georgia and others were in the frame, but the six-foot-six premium athlete headed to the Trojans in the end.
The second tight end on our radar today is Luke Hasz, a four star recruit who committed to the Arkansas Razorbacks. We’ll take a look at both guys profiles, their game, and the opportunity to get on the field in the 2023 college football season.
Duce Robinson – Tight End, USC
Duce Robinson had phenomenal grades coming out of high school in both football and baseball, and was available in the MLB draft in 2023.
ESPN had compared his plate discipline and swing style to Aaron Judge, and had he been drafted there was much deliberation as to whether he would choose football or baseball. As it turned out, he went undrafted, and will now almost certainly turn his attention to a potential career in the NFL.
Robinson was recruited by just about every major program in the country. That’ll happen when you’re graded as highly as he was. The freshman tight end had a choice of schools like Alabama, Georgia and Texas, all of which he took visits to along with the USC Trojans.
His catch radius is outstanding and he’s dominant in closely contested 50/50 situations. He’s got strong hands and the athleticism to play either in line or out in the slot as a pure pass catcher, making him a very intriguing prospect.
There is a chance that he eventually lists as a pure wide receiver, but for now he’s been recruited as a tight end.
Luke Hasz – Tight End, Arkansas
Early enrollee Luke Hasz committed to Arkansas over offers from Alabama, Baylor, Oklahoma and many more. He took visits to the Crimson Tide and Arkansas, and chose the Razorbacks as the team he’d commit his future to.
Hasz played high school football at Bixby High in Oklahoma, where the six-foot-three tight end showed good athleticism and proved to be a matchup nightmare.
The Arkansas freshman tight end was graded a four star recruit, and had three productive years in a row as a pass catching tight end for his school.
Hasz also played basketball, and like many other successful tight ends has the athleticism and vertical to excel on the football field.
2023-2024 CFB Season Opportunity
Duce Robinson
Lake McRee is the only tight end standing in the way of Duce Robinson playing a lot of football this season, and I just don’t see that being much of a competition.
McRee caught 10 passes in 2022 for 106 yards and two touchdowns as a redshirt freshman, and will now have to contend with the elite level five star recruit for playing time.
With the way USC sets up its offense, there’s a high chance that Robinson will look more like a slot receiver, and with the size, length and athleticism that Duce has, you could line him up pretty much anywhere.
One things for sure, the potential connection between Caleb Williams and Duce Robinson this season is extremely compelling. USC is expected to be one of the most explosive offenses in the country this year, and Duce could, and should be a part of that.
Luke Hasz
The Arkansas Razorbacks offense will take on a totally new identity this season with its pass catchers. Both Matt Landers and Jadon Haselwood headed to training camps in the NFL after going undrafted, and those two were the only threatening pass catchers for the program last season.
Landers had 901 yards and eight touchdowns while Haselwood managed 704 and three. The two receivers were the only players in the offense with more than 300 receiving yards, so between multiple transfers and the young talent on the roster, guys are going to have to step up.
Looking at the depth chart, Luke Hasz has a real chance of some playing time. Arkansas bought in transfer Var’Keyes Gumms who managed 458 receiving yards at North Texas last season, and he could certainly emerge as the starter.
Hasz will work in as a depth member of the offense, but there’s no reason that he can’t expand his role as the season opens up.
Pro’s and Con’s for playing time
Duce Robinson
I guess the only con is ensuring that Duce Robinson is now in fact all in on football. It’s been a widespread story documenting his journey this year as he went back and forth between his life in football and a potential life in the world of baseball.
Now that the MLB draft has been and gone, football should be the focus, and if Duce buys in, the Trojans got themselves a super talented playmaker.
Outside of that, there’s no reason he shouldn’t be on the field. He was a 2022 Max Preps First Team All American as a senior, catching 84 passes for 1,614 yards and 14 touchdowns. That production means you should be playing as a freshman, and Duce will be out there.
Luke Hasz
The Razorbacks need pass catchers and playmakers to emerge this year. They’ve brought in multiple transfer wide receivers including Andrew Armstrong, Isaac TeSlaa and Tyrone Broden, as well as tight end Var’Keyes Gumms as mentioned earlier.
Hasz will have to beat out other depth tight ends on the roster to earn consistent reps, but a mixture of his talents and Gumms would make sense this season.
Hasz has proven for the past three seasons that he can play a key role in the offense at the high school level, the question now is whether that translates into college.
The only concern is his below average size. At six-foot-three he will need to dominate physically and win in contested catch situations. If he can do that, the Razorbacks likely have a three year starter.
Why draft him in CFB Fantasy Leagues?
Duce Robinson
…because he’s just that good. If you watch his film, he looks like a man amongst boys, and he still has the room to add 10-15 pounds to his frame with ease.
The player he is already, but stronger, and more powerful? That’s a frightening sight, but one that’s entirely possible with Duce Robinson now at one of college football’s elite programs.
The Trojans freshman tight end will have college fantasy owners scrambling to get hold of him, because he could have the Travis Kelce effect on your offense for 2-3 seasons.
Luke Hasz
Unlike many other tight ends we have studied in this series, Hasz has very little in the way of roadblocks to consistent reps for multiple years. Most guys are having to wait at least a year, sometimes two before getting their shot, but Hasz can compete on day one and there’s a small chance he becomes the starter.
Stock Radar as an NFL Prospect
Duce Robinson 14%
When you have a prospect as good as Duce Robinson, there will be NFL scouts already watching his every move. It’s not often you get a six foot six athlete with a wide frame, broad shoulders and elite athleticism, but here he is.
How his role shapes up in the college game is up for debate. If he transitions into a pure wide receiver role he’ll be just as good. Expect to see him in the draft in three years time.
Luke Hasz 6%
Luke Hasz is going to get plenty of game time for Arkansas, but can the Razorbacks freshman TE make a name for himself as a high production pass catcher over the next three to four seasons?
His athleticism and power against corners and safeties should work in his favor, and he can run away from linebackers. If all of that translates onto the college field, Hasz will be one to watch.
