Sam LaPorta
refer to caption
LaPorta with Iowa in 2021
No. 87 – Detroit Lions
Position:Tight end
Personal information
Born: (2001-01-12) January 12, 2001
Highland, Illinois, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:245 lb (111 kg)
Career information
High school:Highland (IL)
College:Iowa (2019–2022)
NFL Draft:2023 / Round: 2 / Pick: 34
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
NFL record
  • Most receptions by a rookie tight end: 86
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Receptions:86
Receiving yards:889
Receiving touchdowns:10
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Samuel Joseph LaPorta (born January 12, 2001) is an American football tight end for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes and was named the Kwalick–Clark Tight End of the Year in 2022. He was selected by the Lions in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft. With the Lions, he broke the NFL record for receptions by a rookie tight end. He also broke franchise records for receiving touchdowns by a rookie, and receiving yards and receptions by a rookie tight end.

High school career

LaPorta attended Highland High School in Illinois.[1][2][3] He played wide receiver and defensive back in high school. During his career he had 3,793 receiving yards and 50 touchdowns. LaPorta committed to the University of Iowa to play college football.[4][5]

College career

2019 season

LaPorta entered his freshman season in 2019 behind Nate Wieting and Shaun Beyer in the depth chart.[6] In Week 8 against Northwestern, LaPorta caught his first two career passes for 43 yards in a 20–0 win.[7] In 2019, LaPorta played in 12 games with two starts and had 15 receptions for 188 yards.[8][9]

2020 season

As a sophomore in 2020, LaPorta split starting duties with Beyer for the second year in a row. Against Purdue, LaPorta had a career-high 71 receiving yards on five receptions in a 24–20 loss.[10] He caught his first career touchdown against Illinois while having four receptions for 57 yards in a 35–21 win.[11] LaPorta played in eight games with five starts while recording 27 receptions for 271 yards and one touchdown.[12][13] He was also named Fourth-Team All-Big Ten Conference by Phil Steele and honorable-mention All-Big Ten by the coaches and media.[14][15]

2021 season

LaPorta became the starting tight end in 2021. He was placed on the Mackey Award Preseason Watch List and was named Preseason Third-Team All-Big Ten by Athlon Sports and Phil Steele.[16] In their first game against ranked Indiana, LaPorta set a new career-best with 83 yards on five receptions in a 34–6 blowout win.[17] Against Kent State, LaPorta caught a career-best seven catches while totaling 65 yards and adding a touchdown in a 30–7 win.[18] He caught another touchdown against Colorado State in a 24–14 win.[19] Against ranked Kentucky in the 2022 Citrus Bowl, LaPorta had his first 100-yard game with seven receptions, matching a career-high, for 122 yards and a touchdown that gave the Hawkeyes the lead. They would not hold on to win, losing 20–17.[20] LaPorta hauled in 53 passes for 670 yards and three touchdowns in 2021, all career-highs.[21][22] At the end of the season, LaPorta was named Second-Team All-Big Ten by Phil Steele, Third-Team All-Big Ten by the coaches, and honorable-mention All-Big Ten by the media.[23][24] He was also a Iowa Hawkeyes Team Hustle Award recipient.[25]

2022 season

To open the 2022 season, LaPorta was put on the Rotary Lombardi Award and Mackey Award Preseason Watch List as well as being named Preseason Third-Team All-American by Phil Steele, Fourth-Team All-American by Athlon Sports, and First-Team All-Big Ten by both Steele and Athlon.[26] He was also named as one of Iowa's team captains. In a loss to Iowa State, LaPorta caught a career-best eight passes for 55 yards. Against Illinois, he would top that total with nine receptions for 101 yards in a 9–6 loss.[27] Against Purdue, LaPorta caught his only touchdown of a season in a 24–3 win.[28] As true senior in 2022, Laporta had 58 catches for 657 yards. He was named Fourth-Team All-American by Phil Steele, First-Team All-Big Ten, and Kwalick–Clark Tight End of the Year.[29] He finished 14th at Iowa in career receiving yards (1,786) on 153 receptions, ranking first among Iowa tight ends in catches and second in yards.

College statistics

Iowa Hawkeyes
Season GP Receiving
RecYdsAvgTD
2019 121518812.50
2020 82727110.01
2021 145367012.63
2022 125865711.31
Career461531,78611.75

College awards & honors

2020
  • Fourth-Team All-Big Ten – Phil Steele
  • Honorable Mention All-Big Ten – Coaches and Media
2021
  • Second-Team All-Big Ten – Phil Steele
  • Third-Team All-Big Ten – Coaches
  • Honorable Mention All-Big Ten – Media
2022

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
6 ft 3+1⁄4 in
(1.91 m)		 245 lb
(111 kg)		 32+1⁄8 in
(0.82 m)		 10+1⁄4 in
(0.26 m)		4.59 s1.59 s2.61 s4.25 s6.91 s35.0 in
(0.89 m)		10 ft 3 in
(3.12 m)		16 reps
Sources:[30][31]

The Detroit Lions selected LaPorta with the 34th overall pick in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft.[32]

2023 season

On September 24, 2023, LaPorta became the first tight end to tally five receptions in each of his first three games as well as having the most receptions by a tight end in that stretch with 18.[33] He also caught his first career touchdown pass on a 45-yard catch-and-run from Jared Goff.[34] The Lions would end up beating the Atlanta Falcons, 20–6.[35] With his four receptions in Week 4 against the Green Bay Packers, LaPorta broke the record for receptions by a tight end in their first four games with 22.[36] A week later in Week 5 against the Carolina Panthers, LaPorta caught a pair of touchdowns for the first multi-touchdown game of his career while also having three receptions for 47 yards. The Lions would win, 42–24.[37]

In Week 8, LaPorta broke the Lions' franchise record for receptions by a rookie tight end with 43, breaking Charlie Sanders' record of 40 that he set in 1968.[38] During the game, he caught eight passes for 57 yards and a touchdown in the 26–14 win over the Las Vegas Raiders.[39] In the Lions' 22–29 loss to the Packers on Thanksgiving, LaPorta broke Sanders' franchise record of 533 yards by a rookie tight end when he had five catches for 47 yards and a touchdown.[40] In Week 13, LaPorta broke the franchise record for receiving yards by a rookie tight end in a single game with 140 yards and a touchdown on nine receptions.[41] The Lions would beat the New Orleans Saints, 33–28.[42] He was named Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week for his performance.[43]

In the Lions' Week 15 win over the Denver Broncos, LaPorta became the first rookie tight end since Jeremy Shockey in 2002 to record 70 receptions in a season while also becoming the first rookie tight end since Joseph Fauria in 2013 to record three receiving touchdowns in a single game.[44] In Week 18 against the Minnesota Vikings, LaPorta broke the single-season rookie tight end record for receptions with 82. It also came on his 10th touchdown of the season.[45] LaPorta also left the game early after hyperextending his knee.[46] After finishing the season with 86 receptions, 889 yards, and a tight end leading 10 touchdowns, Laporta was named to the 2024 Pro Bowl Games.[47]

NFL career statistics

Legend
Led the league (for tight ends)
Bold Career high

Regular season

Year Team Games Receiving Rushing Fumbles
GPGSRecYdsAvgLngTDAttYdsAvgLngTDFumLost
2023DET 17148688910.34810144.04000
Career17148688910.34810144.04000

Postseason

Year Team Games Receiving Rushing Fumbles
GPGSRecYdsAvgLngTDAttYdsAvgLngTDFumLost
2023DET 0000–0000–0000
Career00000.000000.00000

NFL records

  • Most receptions by a rookie tight end in a single season: 86 (2023)[48]
  • Most receptions by a tight end in their first three career games: 18 (2023)[33]
  • Most receptions by a tight end in their first four career games: 22 (2023)[36]
  • First tight end to tally five catches in each of their first two career games.[49]
  • First tight end to tally five catches in each of their first three career games.[33]
  • First tight end to tally three catches and 35 yards in each of their first eight career games.[50]
  • First rookie tight end to tally at least 70 receptions, 700 receiving yards, and eight touchdowns in a single season.[51]
  • First pair of rookie teammates to each score at least 10 touchdowns with Jahmyr Gibbs.

Lions franchise records

  • Most receptions by a rookie tight end in a single season: 86 (2023)[52]
  • Most receiving yards by a rookie tight end in a single season: 889 (2023)[40]
  • Most receiving touchdowns by a rookie in a single season: 10 (2023)[51]
  • Most receiving yards by a rookie tight end in a single game: 140 (December 3, 2023, vs. New Orleans Saints)[41]

References

  1. ↑ Matter, Dave (April 28, 2023). "Detroit makes Highland's Sam LaPorta the latest Iowa tight end taken in NFL draft". STLtoday.com. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  2. ↑ Emmert, Mark (October 28, 2020). "Tracing Sam LaPorta's path from small-town sensation to budding star tight end at Iowa". Hawk Central. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  3. ↑ Vartanian, Garen; Duncan, Jonathan (April 28, 2023). "Highland native Sam LaPorta hears his name called in the 2nd round of the NFL draft". Belleview News-Democrat. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  4. ↑ Halfacre, Paul (December 19, 2018). "Highland's LaPorta taking his talents to Iowa". STLtoday.com. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  5. ↑ Bain, Matthew (December 18, 2018). "Iowa lands its third three-star Illinois TE in Sam LaPorta". Hawk Central. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  6. ↑ Machlin, Tzvi (July 18, 2019). "Here Is Iowa's 2019 Preseason Depth Chart". The Spun. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  7. ↑ Howe, Rob (March 31, 2020). "Iowa Football Position Preview: Tight End Group Should be More Involved in '20". Hawkeye Nation. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  8. ↑ Batterson, Steve (October 28, 2020). "Hawkeyes' LaPorta follows a successful path". The Quad-City Times. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  9. ↑ Dochterman, Scott (October 28, 2020). "Why Sam LaPorta is primed to become the next great Iowa tight end". The Athletic. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  10. ↑ Emmert, Mark. "Tracing Sam LaPorta's path from small-town sensation to budding star tight end at Iowa". Hawk Central. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  11. ↑ "No. 24 Iowa scores 35 unanswered to beat Illinois 35-14". ESPN. AP. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  12. ↑ Leistikow, Chad (April 20, 2021). "After emerging in shortened 2020 season, Sam LaPorta aims to be Iowa's 'next great tight end'". Hawk Central. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  13. ↑ Johnson, Jeff (October 28, 2020). "Is Sam LaPorta the next great Iowa tight end? Sure looks like he's on his way there". The Gazette. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Phil Steele's 2020 Postseason All-Big Ten Team". Phil Steele. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Big Ten Unveils Football All-Conference Teams for Defense and Select Individual Honors". B1G. Big Ten Conference. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  16. ↑ Devine, Tyler. "Phil Steele names 11 Hawkeyes preseason All-Big Ten". Hawks Fanatic. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  17. ↑ Dopirak, Dustin. "3 reasons IU football lost to Iowa: Brutal start, Michael Penix struggles, too many flags". IndyStar. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  18. ↑ "10@10: LaPorta has career day against Kent State". The Mercury. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  19. ↑ "LaPorta learns lesson with touchdown celebration". Iowa Rivals. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  20. ↑ Bain, Matthew. "Recap: Iowa football loses to Kentucky 20-17 in the Citrus Bowl". Hawks Central. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  21. ↑ Southard, Dargan (October 7, 2021). "Dissecting Sam LaPorta's growth and how vital the Iowa tight end will be vs. Penn State". Hawk Central. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  22. ↑ Vann, Leah (June 14, 2021). "Iowa football summer check-in: Tight ends". The Gazette. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  23. ↑ "Phil Steele's 2021 Postseason All-Big Ten Team". Phil Steele. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  24. ↑ "Big Ten Announces Football All-Conference Teams for Offense and Select Individual Honors". B1G. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  25. ↑ "IOWA FOOTBALL AWARDS ANNOUNCED". Iowa Hawkeyes Athletics. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  26. ↑ "CAMPBELL, MOSS, LAPORTA NAMED PRESEASON ALL-AMERICANS BY PHIL STEELE". Iowa Hawkeyes Athletics. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  27. ↑ Moore, Raven. "Recap: Iowa football defeated by Illinois for the first time since 2008 in defensive battle". Hawks Central. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  28. ↑ "Iowa 24-3 Purdue (Nov 5, 2022) - Recap". ESPN. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  29. ↑ Helmer, Josh. "Surprise, surprise. The Iowa Hawkeyes have the best TE in the Big Ten in Sam LaPorta". Hawkeyes Wire. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  30. ↑ "Sam LaPorta Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  31. ↑ "2023 NFL Draft Scout Sam LaPorta College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  32. ↑ Twentyman, Tim (April 28, 2023). "Lions draft tight end Sam LaPorta". DetroitLions.com. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  33. 1 2 3 Reisman, Jeremy (September 24, 2023). "Lions' Sam LaPorta breaks several rookie tight end records". Pride of Detroit. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  34. ↑ Southard, Dargen (September 26, 2023). "These three former Iowa football players stood out in Week 3 of the NFL season". Des Moines Register. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  35. ↑ Macri, Jonathon (September 24, 2023). "NFL Week 3 Game Recap: Detroit Lions 20, Atlanta Falcons 6". Pro Football Focus. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  36. 1 2 Stone, Jackson. "Lions TE Sam LaPorta barges into territory not even Rob Gronkowski, Travis Kelce reached". Clutch Points. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
  37. ↑ Sparks, Jackson. "Sam LaPorta Scores Pair Of Touchdowns In Win". RotoBaller.com. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  38. ↑ Payne, Zach. "Detroit Lions Week 8 Report Card: Turnovers, red zone woes barely hinder dominant effort versus Raiders". Sideline Nation Lions. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  39. ↑ "Sam LaPorta finds the end zone in Week 8". 5th Down Fantasy. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  40. 1 2 "Lions' Sam LaPorta establishes best season for rookie tight end in franchise history". The Detroit News. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  41. 1 2 McCarriston, Shanna. "Lions' Sam LaPorta sets franchise rookie record, earns praise from teammates and Saints' Tyrann Mathieu". CBS Sports. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  42. ↑ Pouncy, Colton. "Lions' Sam LaPorta is setting NFL rookie tight end records, but he has bigger goals". The Athletic. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  43. ↑ Maakaron, John. "Detroit Lions Sam LaPorta Voted Rookie of the Week". WLNS. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  44. ↑ Benjamin, Cody (December 17, 2023). "Lions' Sam LaPorta having one of the best rookie TE seasons in NFL history after three-TD night". CBSSports.com. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  45. ↑ Woodyard, Eric. "Lions' Sam LaPorta breaks NFL mark for receptions by rookie TE". ESPN. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  46. ↑ Owens, Jason. "Lions Pro Bowl TE Sam LaPorta carted off with reported hyperextended knee vs. Vikings". YahooSports!. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  47. ↑ "Lions Floated as Landing Spot for 3-Time Pro Bowl TE After Sam LaPorta Injury". Heavy.com. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  48. ↑ Kull, David. "Los Angeles Rams WR Puka Nacua Leads The Way Among Three Rookies Out To Set NFL Records In Week 18". LAFB.com. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  49. ↑ Risdon, Jeff. "Lions' Sam LaPorta sets the NFL record for instant production by a rookie tight end". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  50. ↑ Lage, Larry. "Lions head into the bye with their best record in nearly a decade". ABC 13. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
  51. 1 2 Twentyman, Tim. "FOUR DOWNS: Rookies Gibbs & LaPorta combine for 5 TDs in win over Broncos". Detroit Lions. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  52. ↑ Twentyman, Tim. "FOUR DOWNS: Rookie Jahmyr Gibbs breaks out with huge performance on MNF". Detroit Lions. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
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