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Iowa

Sam LaPorta lands with Detroit in the NFL Draft

On3 imageby: Tom Kakert04/28/23HawkeyeReport
Sam LaPorta
Photo; Getty Images

When Sam LaPorta was recruited to play for the Iowa Hawkeyes, he was a 6-foot-4 and 200 pound tight end who played more like a wide receiver. That was back in 2019 and four years later, LaPorta bulked up to a 6-foot-4 and 245 pound true tight end that can block and make plays in the passing game.

All that work paid off on Friday night when the Detroit Lions picked LaPorta in the second round of the NFL Draft with pick #34. LaPorta becomes the 12th tight end from Iowa drafted by the NFL in the Ferentz era. He is also the 12 player drafted in the second round during the Ferentz era. He will join Iowa teammate Jack Campbell in Detroit. He was a first round pick of the Lions on Thursday night.

LaPorta played as a true freshman, appearing in 12 games. Most of the action was on special teams early in the year before he finally played tight end at the midway point of the season. That year he finished with 15 receptions for 188 yards.

In his sophomore season, he played in all eight games of the Covid shortened season. LaPorta caught 27 passes for 271 yards and he caught his first career touchdown pass. Then in his junior year, he played in all 14 games and had 53 receptions for 670 yards and three touchdown receptions. He earned third team All Big Ten honors that year from the coaches.

This past season, he once again led the team with 58 receptions for 657 yards and one touchdown. LaPorta was named Big Ten tight end of the year and first team All Big Ten. He was also one of three finalist for the John Mackey Award and was named offensive MVP for the Hawkeyes.

For his career, he ranks first in receptions by a tight end at Iowa with 153 and second in receiving yards for a tight end with 1,786 yards.

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