Hawk Item – –Ranks 14th in career receiving yards with 1,786 yards on 153 receptions . . . among Iowa tight ends all-time, ranks first in receptions and second in receiving yards . . . according to PFF in 2021, led Big Ten tight ends in receptions (53), yards (670), yards after catch (299), yards after contact (206) and catches of 15+ yards (18) . . . maintained streak of 24 straight games with at least one reception from 2019 through 10 games in 2021 . . . one of 12 seniors named to 2022 Player Council . . . one of 10 juniors named to 2021 Player Council . . . one of eight true freshmen to see action in 2019 . . . earned Dean’s List recognition spring, 2020 and fall, 2022.
2022 Honors – – Roy Carver Most Valuable Player, offense . . . Permanent Team Captain, offense . . . Hayden Fry Award, offense . . . Coaches Appreciation Award, offense . . . fourth-team All-America by Phil Steele . . . one of three finalists for John Mackey Award . . . named Kwalick-Clark Big Ten Tight End of the Year . . . first-team All-Big Ten by league coaches and media . . . named to Rotary Lombardi Award Midseason Watch List . . . John Mackey Award preseason Watch List . . . Rotary Lombardi Award preseason Watch List . . . preseason third-team All-America by Phil Steele . . . preseason fourth-team All-America by Athlon Sports . . . preseason first-team All-Big Ten by Athlon Sports and Phil Steele . . . 2022 – – Listed as first team tight end following spring practice . . . started at tight end in 7-3 opening win over South Dakota State . . . two receptions for nine yards vs. SDSU . . . started at tight end in 10-7 loss to Iowa State . . . started at tight end in 10-7 loss to Iowa State . . . career-high eight receptions for 55 yards vs. ISU, with a long of 11 yards . . . recorded one solo tackle . . . one of two tight ends in the starting line-up in 27-0 win over Nevada as offense gained 162 net rushing yards . . . two receptions for 13 yards vs. Nevada, with a long of nine yards . . . one of two tight ends in the starting line-up in 27-10 win at Rutgers . . . four receptions for 77 yards at Rutgers, with a career-long of 42 yards . . . one of two tight ends in starting line-up in 27-14 loss to #4 Michigan . . . five receptions for 24 yards vs. Michigan . . . one of two tight ends in starting line-up in 9-6 loss at Illinois . . . career-best nine receptions at Illinois for 100 yards, with a long of 32 yards . . . also had one solo tackle . . . one of two tight ends in starting line-up in 54-10 loss at #2 Ohio State . . . six receptions for 55 yards at OSU, with a long of 17 yards . . . also recorded one solo tackle . . . started at tight end in 33-13 win over Northwestern as offense gained 398 yards total offense . . . five receptions for 53 yards vs. Northwestern, with a long of 15 yards . . . started at tight end in 24-3 win at Purdue as offense rushed for 184 net yards and gained 376 yards total offense . . . three receptions for 71 yards and one touchdown at Purdue, with a long of 41 yards . . . 16-yard scoring reception for first points of the game at Purdue . . . one of two tight ends in the starting line-up in 24-10 win over Wisconsin . . . five receptions for 48 yards vs. Wisconsin, with a long of 13 yards . . . twice had receptions that provided first-and-goal and led to Iowa touchdowns . . . started at tight end in 13-10 win at Minnesota . . . four receptions for 95 yards in win at Minnesota, with a long of 58 yards that led to Iowa field goal . . . left Minnesota game in the first quarter due to injury . . . did not see action in 24-17 loss to Nebraska due to injury . . . started at tight end in 21-0 Music City Bowl win over Kentucky . . . five receptions for 56 yards vs. Kentucky, including 27-yard catch and run that led to first touchdown of the game . . . also had two rushing attempts for six yards from the wildcat formation.
2021 Honors – – Team Hustle Award, offense . . . second-team All-Big Ten by Phil Steele . . . third-team All-Big Ten by league coaches . . . honorable mention All-Big Ten by league media . . . named to Mackey Award Preseason Watch List . . . Preseason third-team All-Big Ten by Athlon Sports and Phil Steele . . . 2021 – – Started at tight end in 34-6 win over #17 Indiana . . . led team with five receptions for career-best 83 yards vs. Hoosiers, with a long of 24 yards . . . saw action in 27-17 win at #9 Iowa State . . . one reception for 21 yards at ISU . . . started at tight end in 30-7 win over Kent State as offense rushed for 206 yards and gained 418 yards total offense . . . career-best seven receptions for 65 yards and one touchdown vs. Kent State . . . five-yard scoring reception to cap a 20-play, 95-yard drive in the second quarter, his second career score . . . one of two tight ends in the starting line-up in 24-14 win over Colorado State . . . four receptions for 45 yards and one touchdown vs. CSU . . . 27-yard scoring reception gave Iowa 21-14 advantage late in third quarter . . . started at tight end in 51-14 win at Maryland as offense gained 428 yards total offense . . . five receptions for 49 yards at Maryland, with a long of 16 yards . . . started at tight end in 23-20 win over #4 Penn State . . . one reception for eight yards and a key first down vs. PSU . . . added one solo tackle . . . started at tight end in 24-7 loss to Purdue . . . five receptions for 61 yards vs. Purdue, with a long of 22 yards . . . started at tight end in 27-7 loss at Wisconsin . . . three receptions for 44 yards at Wisconsin, with a long of 27 yards . . . started at tight end in 17-12 win at Northwestern as offense gained 185 net rushing yards . . . three receptions for 15 yards at Northwestern, with a long of seven yards . . . started at tight end in 27-22 win over Minnesota . . . three receptions for 34 yards vs. Minnesota, with a long of 17 yards . . . started at tight end in 33-23 win over Illinois, but had no statistics, ending streak of 24 straight games with at least one reception . . . started at tight end in 28-21 win at Nebraska as offense gained 186 net rushing yards . . . three receptions for 61 yards at Nebraska, with a long of 30 yards . . . started at tight end in 42-3 loss to #2 Michigan . . . six receptions for 62 yards vs. Michigan, with a long of 21 yards . . . started at tight end in 20-17 Citrus Bowl loss to #22 Kentucky as offense rushed for 173 yards and gained 384 yards total offense . . . matched career-high with seven receptions vs. Kentucky, for career-high 122 yards and one touchdown . . . 36-yard touchdown reception in fourth quarter to give Iowa 17-13 advantage.
2020 Honors – – Fourth-team All-Big Ten by Phil Steele . . . honorable mention All-Big Ten by league coaches and media . . . John Mackey Award preseason Watch List . . . preseason fourth-team All-Big Ten by Athlon Sports . . . 2020 – – Saw action in all eight games, with five starts . . . led team with 27 receptions and ranked second in receiving yards (271), with one touchdown . . . one of two tight ends in the starting line-up in 24-20 loss at Purdue . . . five receptions for career-high 71 yards at Purdue, with a long of 20 yards . . . started at tight end in 21-20 loss to Northwestern . . . tied career-best with six receptions vs. Northwestern, totaling 46 yards, with a long of 11 yards . . . started at tight end in 49-7 win over Michigan State as offense rushed for 226 yards and gained 405 yards total offense . . . two receptions for 11 yards vs. MSU . . . saw action in 35-7 win at Minnesota as offense rushed for 235 yards . . . one reception for five yards at Minnesota . . . one of two tight ends in the starting line-up in 41-21 win at Penn State as offense gained 175 net rushing offense . . . three receptions for 32 yards at PSU, with a long of 16 yards . . . one of two tight ends in the starting line-up in 26-20 win over Nebraska . . . led receivers with five receptions for 38 yards vs. Nebraska, along with recording one solo tackle . . . saw action in 35-21 win at Illinois as offense gained 242 yards total offense . . . four receptions for 57 yards and a touchdown at Illinois . . . first career touchdown came on 22-yard reception at Illinois . . . saw action in 28-7 win over #25 Wisconsin, recording one reception for 11 yards.
2019 – – Saw action 12 games with two starts, missing one game due to injury . . . collected 15 receptions for 188 yards . . . saw action in 38-14 win over Miami, but had no statistics as offense gained 213 net rushing yards and 465 yards total offense . . . saw action in 30-0 win over Rutgers, but had no statistics as offense gianed 438 yards total offense . . . saw action in 18-17 win at Iowa State, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 48-3 win over Middle Tennessee, but had no statistics as offense gained 644 yards total offense . . . did not see action in 10-3 loss at #18 Michigan . . . saw action in 17-12 loss to #9 Penn State, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 26-20 win over Purdue, but had no statistics . . . saw action in 20-0 win at Northwestern . . . first receptions of his career with two receptions for 43 yards at Northwestern, including a long of 41 yards . . . one of three tight ends in the starting line-up in 24-22 loss at #16 Wisconsin . . . one reception for 16 yards at Wisconsin . . . saw action in 23-19 win over #7 Minnesota . . . one reception for 12 yards vs. Minnesota for a key first down . . . saw action in 19-10 win over Illinois as offense gained 387 yards total offense . . . two receptions for 36 yards vs. Illinois, with a long of 22 yards . . . saw action in 27-24 win at Nebraska . . . career-high three receptions for 37 yards at Nebraska . . . 22-yard reception in final seconds led to game-winning field goal with one second remaining . . . one of three tight ends in the starting line-up in 49-24 Holiday Bowl win over #22 USC . . . career-best six receptions for 44 yards vs. USC, with a long of 14 yards.
High school honors – – Earned first-team all-state honors on offense as a junior and senior . . . all-area defensive back as a junior and senior . . . first-team all-conference on defense as a sophomore and also all-area on offense . . . honorable mention all-conference as a receiver as a freshman . . . Career – – Four-year football letterman as wide receiver and defensive back . . . helped prep team post four-year record of 40-6, including just two losses in final two seasons combined . . . prep team reached state semifinals as a junior . . . ranks second in Illinois high school history in receiving touchdowns (50) and third in receiving yards (3,793) . . . recorded 68 receptions for 1,457 yards and 19 touchdowns as a senior, along with 53 tackles and seven interceptions on defense . . . as a junior recorded 67 receptions for 1,387 yards and 20 touchdowns, while also collecting seven interceptions . . . three-year team captain . . . also earned four letters in basketball and two in track.
Personal – – Born 1/12/2001 . . . business major . . . member of National Honor Society . . . earned Academic All-State recognition three years . . . parents are Staci and Joseph LaPorta . . . high school coach was Jimmy Warnecke.