Sam LaPorta explained

Sam LaPorta
Current Team:Detroit Lions
Number:87
Position:Tight end
Birth Date:12 January 2001
Birth Place:Highland, Illinois, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:3
Weight Lb:245
High School:Highland (IL)
College:Iowa (2019–2022)
Draftyear:2023
Draftround:2
Draftpick:34
Pastteams:
Status:Active
Highlights:

NFL records

  • Receptions by a rookie tight end: 86
  • Postseason receiving yards by a rookie tight end: 176
Statweek:13
Statseason:2024
Statlabel1:Receptions
Statvalue1:117
Statlabel2:Receiving yards
Statvalue2:1,280
Statlabel3:Receiving touchdowns
Statvalue3:15
Pfr:LaPoSa01

Samuel Joseph LaPorta (born January 12, 2001) is an American professional 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 Big Ten Tight End of the Year in 2022. He was selected by the Lions in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft. As a rookie, Laporta was named a second-team All-Pro and voted to the Pro Bowl. He also broke the NFL record for receptions by a rookie tight end, along with breaking Detroit franchise records for receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns by a tight end.

Early life

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

See also: 2019 Iowa Hawkeyes football team.

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

See also: 2020 Iowa Hawkeyes football team.

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

See also: 2021 Iowa Hawkeyes football team.

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 an Iowa Hawkeyes Team Hustle Award recipient.[25]

2022 season

See also: 2022 Iowa Hawkeyes football team.

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
SeasonGPReceiving
Rec Yds Avg TD
201912 15 188 12.5 0
20208 27 271 10.0 1
202114 53 670 12.6 3
202212 58 657 11.3 1
Career 46 153 1,786 11.7 5

College awards & honors

2020
2021
2022

Professional career

The Detroit Lions selected LaPorta with the 34th overall pick in the second round of the 2023 NFL draft.[30]

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.[31] He also caught his first career touchdown pass on a 45-yard catch-and-run from Jared Goff.[32] The Lions would end up beating the Atlanta Falcons, 20–6.[33] 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.[34] 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.[35]

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 .[36] During the game, he caught eight passes for 57 yards and a touchdown in the 26–14 win over the Las Vegas Raiders.[37] 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.[38] 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.[39] The Lions would beat the New Orleans Saints, 33–28.[40] He was named Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week for his performance.[41]

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.[42] 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.[43] LaPorta also left the game early after hyperextending his knee.[44] 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.[45] [46] He was also selected as a Second-team All-Pro by the Associated Press.[47] LaPorta was also named a finalist for the Pepsi Zero Sugar NFL Rookie of the Year Award.[48]

LaPorta set many Lions records during his rookie season. He set new records for receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns by a tight end overall. All of which were also the Lions' rookie tight end records. His 10 receiving touchdowns were also the record for Lions rookies overall. He was an Offensive Rookie of the Year finalist.[49] He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.[50]

In his first postseason game, LaPorta scored a receiving touchdown in the Wild Card Round win over the Rams.[51]

NFL career statistics

Legend
Lions franchise record (for tight ends)
Led the league (for tight ends)
BoldCareer high

Regular season

YearTeamGamesReceivingRushingFumbles
GP GS Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Att Yds Avg Lng TD Fum Lost
DET17 14 10.3 48 1 4 4.0 4 0 0 0
DET11 11 31 391 12.6 52 5 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0
Career 28 25 117 1,280 10.9 52 15 1 4 4.0 4 0 0 0

NFL records

Lions franchise records

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Matter . Dave . April 28, 2023 . Detroit makes Highland's Sam LaPorta the latest Iowa tight end taken in NFL draft . August 6, 2023 . STLtoday.com . en.
  2. Web site: Emmert . Mark . October 28, 2020 . Tracing Sam LaPorta's path from small-town sensation to budding star tight end at Iowa . August 6, 2023 . Hawk Central.
  3. Web site: Vartanian . Garen . Duncan . Jonathan . April 28, 2023 . Highland native Sam LaPorta hears his name called in the 2nd round of the NFL draft . August 6, 2023 . Belleview News-Democrat.
  4. Web site: Halfacre . Paul . December 19, 2018 . Highland's LaPorta taking his talents to Iowa . August 6, 2023 . STLtoday.com.
  5. Web site: Bain . Matthew . December 18, 2018 . Iowa lands its third three-star Illinois TE in Sam LaPorta . August 6, 2023 . Hawk Central.
  6. Web site: Machlin . Tzvi . July 18, 2019 . Here Is Iowa's 2019 Preseason Depth Chart . October 10, 2023 . The Spun.
  7. Web site: Howe . Rob . March 31, 2020 . Iowa Football Position Preview: Tight End Group Should be More Involved in '20 . October 10, 2023 . Hawkeye Nation.
  8. Web site: Batterson . Steve . October 28, 2020 . Hawkeyes' LaPorta follows a successful path . August 6, 2023 . The Quad-City Times.
  9. Web site: Dochterman . Scott . October 28, 2020 . Why Sam LaPorta is primed to become the next great Iowa tight end . August 6, 2023 . The Athletic.
  10. Web site: Emmert . Mark . October 28, 2020 . Tracing Sam LaPorta's path from small-town sensation to budding star tight end at Iowa . October 10, 2023 . Hawk Central.
  11. Web site: December 5, 2020 . No. 24 Iowa scores 35 unanswered to beat Illinois 35-14 . October 10, 2023 . ESPN.com. Associated Press.
  12. Web site: Leistikow . Chad . April 20, 2021 . After emerging in shortened 2020 season, Sam LaPorta aims to be Iowa's 'next great tight end' . August 6, 2023 . Hawk Central.
  13. Web site: Johnson . Jeff . October 28, 2020 . Is Sam LaPorta the next great Iowa tight end? Sure looks like he's on his way there . August 6, 2023 . The Gazette.
  14. Web site: Phil Steele's 2020 Postseason All-Big Ten Team . Phil Steele . October 10, 2023.
  15. Web site: Big Ten Unveils Football All-Conference Teams for Defense and Select Individual Honors . https://web.archive.org/web/20201216190400/https://bigten.org/news/2020/12/16/big-ten-unveils-football-all-conference-teams-for-defense-and-select-individual-honors.aspx . dead . December 16, 2020 . B1G . Big Ten Conference . October 10, 2023.
  16. Web site: Devine . Tyler . June 22, 2021 . Phil Steele names 11 Hawkeyes preseason All-Big Ten . October 10, 2023 . Hawks Fanatic.
  17. Web site: Dopirak . Dustin . September 4, 2021 . 3 reasons IU football lost to Iowa: Brutal start, Michael Penix struggles, too many flags . October 10, 2023 . IndyStar.
  18. Web site: September 20, 2021 . 10@10: LaPorta has career day against Kent State . October 10, 2023 . The Mercury.
  19. Web site: Kakert . Tom . September 25, 2021 . LaPorta learns lesson with touchdown celebration . October 10, 2023 . Iowa Rivals.
  20. Web site: Bain . Matthew . January 1, 2022 . Recap: Iowa football loses to Kentucky 20-17 in the Citrus Bowl . October 10, 2023 . Hawks Central.
  21. Web site: Southard . Dargan . October 7, 2021 . Dissecting Sam LaPorta's growth and how vital the Iowa tight end will be vs. Penn State . August 6, 2023 . Hawk Central.
  22. Web site: Vann . Leah . June 14, 2021 . Iowa football summer check-in: Tight ends . August 6, 2023 . The Gazette.
  23. Web site: Phil Steele's 2021 Postseason All-Big Ten Team . Phil Steele . October 10, 2023.
  24. Web site: Big Ten Announces Football All-Conference Teams for Offense and Select Individual Honors . https://web.archive.org/web/20211201183105/https://bigten.org/news/2021/12/1/big-ten-announces-football-all-conference-teams-for-offense-and-select-individual-honors.aspx . dead . December 1, 2021 . B1G . October 10, 2023.
  25. Web site: Iowa Football Awards Announced . Iowa Hawkeyes Athletics . March 11, 2022 . October 10, 2023.
  26. Web site: Campbell, Moss, LaPorta Named Preseason All-Americans by Phil Steele . Iowa Hawkeyes Athletics . June 15, 2022 . October 10, 2023.
  27. Web site: Moore . Raven . October 8, 2022 . Recap: Iowa football defeated by Illinois for the first time since 2008 in defensive battle . October 10, 2023 . Hawks Central.
  28. Web site: Iowa 24-3 Purdue (Nov 5, 2022) - Recap . ESPN . October 10, 2023.
  29. Web site: Helmer . Josh . November 30, 2022 . Surprise, surprise. The Iowa Hawkeyes have the best TE in the Big Ten in Sam LaPorta . October 10, 2023 . Hawkeyes Wire. USA Today.
  30. Web site: Twentyman . Tim . April 28, 2023 . Lions draft tight end Sam LaPorta . August 6, 2023 . DetroitLions.com.
  31. Web site: Reisman . Jeremy . September 24, 2023 . Lions' Sam LaPorta breaks several rookie tight end records . September 25, 2023 . Pride of Detroit.
  32. Web site: Southard . Dargen . September 26, 2023 . These three former Iowa football players stood out in Week 3 of the NFL season . September 28, 2023 . Des Moines Register.
  33. Web site: Macri . Jonathon . September 24, 2023 . NFL Week 3 Game Recap: Detroit Lions 20, Atlanta Falcons 6 . September 28, 2023 . Pro Football Focus.
  34. Web site: Stone . Jackson . September 28, 2023 . Lions TE Sam LaPorta barges into territory not even Rob Gronkowski, Travis Kelce reached . September 30, 2023 . Clutch Points.
  35. Web site: Sparks . Jackson . Sam LaPorta Scores Pair Of Touchdowns In Win . RotoBaller.com . October 8, 2023.
  36. Web site: Payne . Zach . October 31, 2023 . Detroit Lions Week 8 Report Card: Turnovers, red zone woes barely hinder dominant effort versus Raiders . November 4, 2023 . Sideline Nation Lions.
  37. Web site: October 31, 2023 . Sam LaPorta finds the end zone in Week 8 . November 4, 2023 . 5th Down Fantasy.
  38. Web site: Rogers . Justin . November 23, 2023 . Lions' Sam LaPorta establishes best season for rookie tight end in franchise history . 2024-06-02 . The Detroit News . en-US.
  39. Web site: McCarriston . Shanna . December 4, 2023 . Lions' Sam LaPorta sets franchise rookie record, earns praise from teammates and Saints' Tyrann Mathieu . December 5, 2023 . CBS Sports.
  40. Web site: Pouncy . Colton . December 3, 2023 . Lions' Sam LaPorta is setting NFL rookie tight end records, but he has bigger goals . December 5, 2023 . The Athletic.
  41. Web site: Maakaron . John . December 7, 2023 . Detroit Lions Sam LaPorta Voted Rookie of the Week . December 8, 2023 . WLNS.
  42. Web site: Benjamin. Cody. Lions' Sam LaPorta having one of the best rookie TE seasons in NFL history after three-TD night. CBSSports.com. December 17, 2023. December 17, 2023.
  43. Web site: Woodyard . Eric . January 7, 2024 . Lions' Sam LaPorta breaks NFL mark for receptions by rookie TE . January 10, 2024 . ESPN.com.
  44. Web site: Owens . Jason . January 8, 2024 . Lions Pro Bowl TE Sam LaPorta carted off with reported hyperextended knee vs. Vikings . January 10, 2024 . Yahoo Sports!.
  45. Web site: Sam LaPorta 2023 Game Log . 2024-06-02 . Pro-Football-Reference.com . en.
  46. Web site: Holcomb . Dave . 2024-01-07 . Lions Floated as Landing Spot for 3-Time Pro Bowl TE After Sam LaPorta Injury . 2024-06-02 . Heavy.com . en-US.
  47. Web site: 2023 NFL All-Pros . 2024-06-02 . Pro-Football-Reference.com . en.
  48. Web site: 2024-01-16 . NFL Announces Nominees for 2023 Pepsi Zero Sugar NFL Rookie of the Year . 2024-06-02 . NFL.com . en-US.
  49. Web site: Risdon . Jeff . February 9, 2024 . Sam LaPorta and Jahmyr Gibbs finish top 4 in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting . February 9, 2024 . Lions Wire. USA Today . en-US.
  50. Web site: 2023 NFL All-Rookie Team . 2024-06-02 . Pro-Football-Reference.com . en.
  51. Web site: Wild Card - Los Angeles Rams at Detroit Lions - January 14th, 2024 . 2024-06-02 . Pro-Football-Reference.com . en.
  52. Web site: Chavanelle . Nikki . January 7, 2024 . Sam LaPorta breaks record for most receptions by a rookie TE in NFL history . January 25, 2024 . On3.
  53. Web site: Berreman . Brad . December 16, 2023 . Sam LaPorta quickly leaving Lions rookie tight end records behind, coming for overall franchise records . January 25, 2024 . Sideline Report.
  54. Web site: McCarriston . Shanna . December 4, 2023 . LaPorta set franchise record for most receiving yards by a rookie tight end against Saints . January 25, 2024 . CBSSports.

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