Sam LaPorta the next tight end in line for NFL success at Iowa

The Iowa Hawkeyes have churned out some impressive NFL tight ends through the years. Sam LaPorta is next in line for Tight End U.

The Iowa Hawkeyes have a rich tradition and history of sending tight end prospects onto the NFL. Especially in recent years, guys like George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers, TJ Hockenson of the Detroit Lions, and Noah Fant of the Denver Broncos have impressed at the next level early on as difference makers at the position.

The Broncos actually have another former Iowa Hawkeyes tight end on their practice squad in Shaun Beyer who had an impressive offseason, but who is the next player coming out of the program many may call Tight End U?

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Arguments over which school deserves that distinction aside, the next in line for Iowa as it relates to the NFL and possibly the 2022 NFL Draft is Sam LaPorta.

LaPorta is a junior out of Illinois who came to the Hawkeyes program in 2019 as a 6-foot-4, 215-pound prospect. The Iowa Hawkeyes now list him as 6-foot-4, 249 pounds.

In the Hawkeyes’ season opener against Indiana, LaPorta had a career-high 83 receiving yards on five receptions.

https://twitter.com/IowaOnBTN/status/1434261122316582914

In this game against Indiana, LaPorta showed off his hands and after-the-catch abilities.

Averaging almost 17 yards per reception in the game against Indiana, LaPorta proved that he has the chance not only to be the next Iowa tight end in line for looks at the next level, but he also might be the top receiving option on the team after Iowa said goodbye to players like Ihmir Smith-Marsette and Brandon Smith this past offseason.

Sam LaPorta was one of just eight true freshmen to see action in 2019 and over his first 14 games with the Hawkeyes, he had already caught 42 passes as a second and even third option at the position.

He’s proven himself up to this point and if he has more performances going forward like he did against Indiana, we could see him make the decision to leave school early and enter the 2022 NFL Draft.