HawgBeat's Top-20 countdown series previews 20 players who are expected to have the biggest impact for Arkansas football in 2023. The series will provide details on each player's measurables, their 2022 season, an outlook for 2023 and HawgBeat's take.
Checking in at No. 15 is redshirt sophomore tight end Var’Keyes Gumms.
VAR'KEYES GUMMS
Position: Tight end
Year: Redshirt sophomore
Height, Weight: 6-foot-3, 230 pounds
PFF Grade in 2022: 71.9
Snaps played in 2022: 497
2022 SUMMARY
In a 2022 season that saw Gumms play in all 14 games for the North Texas Mean Green, the redshirt freshman tight end was named Second Team Freshman All-American by The Athletic, Second-Team All-Conference USA by Pro Football Focus and CUSA All-Freshman by the league’s coaches.
As a receiving tight end, Gumms caught 34 passes for 458 yards (15th nationally) and added five touchdowns through the air. His Pro Football Grade of 71.9 is the 17th best out of returning tight ends in college football and it was seventh best on the offensive side of the ball at North Texas last year. Gumms received a run block grade of 53.0 and a receiving grade of 77.0.
Against UTSA, Gumms caught three passes for a season-high 92 yards and a touchdown. His season-high in receptions came against Florida International, when the 6-foot-3 tight end made five catches for 42 yards to go with a touchdown.
2023 OUTLOOK
One thing that frustrated some Arkansas fans was the lack of tight-end usage under Kendal Briles. Trey Knox showed his potential but was never given enough opportunity to fully showcase his talent, resulting in him following former tight ends coach Dowell Loggains to South Carolina.
Under new offensive coordinator Dan Enos and new tight ends coach Morgan Turner, expect things to change. Enos led the Razorback offense from 2015-2017 and his tight ends had great success. In 2015, Hunter Henry and Jeremy Sprinkle combined for 1,128 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. Jeremy Sprinkle was a major part of the 2016 offense as he caught 33 passes for 380 yards and four touchdowns.
With Gumms' primary skill being his receiving and run-after-the-catch ability, the tight-end transfer will have plenty of chances to catch passes from KJ Jefferson if he can make the transition to the SEC level.
HAWGBEAT'S VIEW
Going into 2023, Gumms will be looked upon to get the majority of playing time as the primary pass-catching tight end if he proves himself in fall camp.
While North Texas isn’t the SEC West, Gumms’ film shows playmaking ability that should bode well for Arkansas.
