Iowa's Luke Lachey (85) runs after a catch against Purdue on Nov. 5, 2022 at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind. (Rob Howe/HawkeyeNation.com)
Iowa Post-Spring Position Analysis: TE
IOWA CITY, Iowa - Sam LaPorta provided a whole lot for the Iowa offense during the last four seasons. In the last two campaigns, the talented tight end was most of it.
NFL teams noticed the talent. That's why Detroit snapped him up in the second round of last week's NFL Draft, the 34th overall selection.
The Lions' gain is the Hawkeyes' loss. Fortunately for Iowa, it's been preparing for it.
Luke Lachey's role has been increasing for the last two Falls. The 6-foot-6, 252-pound Ohio native started 10 games in that time, playing 26 contests in all. He caught 28 passes for 398 yards and a team-best four receiving touchdowns in 2022.
The son of former Ohio State and NFL offensive lineman Jim Lachey, Luke could have played Division I basketball. Football programs also coveted that athleticism. He reported scholarship offers from 11 Power 5 schools, including LSU, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa State.
He chose Iowa over Michigan State, in part, because of the Hawkeyes' strong tight end lineage. That also helped lure help for Lachey in '23 via the transfer portal.
Former Michigan Wolverine Erick All (6-5, 255) joined Iowa in January. He was named honorable-mention All-Big Ten in '21 after catching 38 passes for 437 yards and two touchdowns for the Big Ten champions.
All, who practiced at full speed this Spring in Iowa City after surgery last Fall, helps the Hawkeyes absorb the loss of LaPorta. He and Lachey will form one of the top tight-end duos in the conference with the potential to be among the best in the country.
As is the case most seasons, there are talented players beyond its top two guys at the position. It challenges running back for the deepest spot on offense heading into the summer.
Addison Ostrenga (6-4, 234) appeared in 13 games as a redshirt freshman in '22 even with LaPorta and Lachey playing at a high level. The Wisconsin product caught just one pass for six yards but cut his teeth on special teams. He looked good in the open Spring practice.
Senior Steven Stilianos (6-5, 264) played in five games during '22 after transferring in from Lafayette. Cael Vanderbush (6-4, 208) dealt with some injury issues after arriving as a true freshman last summer and did not see any game action.
The Hawkeyes added walk-on Hayden Large (6-5, 240) from Dordt University this semester. He caught a touchdown in the open practice as a fullback after coming in as a tight end.
Sophomore walk-ons Johnny Pascuzzi (6-4, 224) and Andrew Lentsch (6-4, 252) provide more quality depth at the position. Incoming freshman Zach Ortwerth will join the competition when he arrives on campus next month.
Ortwerth chose the Hawkeyes ahead of offers from eight other Power 5 programs, including Wisconsin, Minnesota, Purdue and Nebraska. 247Sports composite rankings saw him as the No. 40 tight end nationally in the '23 recruiting class.
Iowa also added '23 prep graduate Grant Leeper in January. He was expected to be a gray shirt, which means he'd join the Hawkeyes on scholarship for the second semester.
