Erick All ‘loved every bit of’ his short time at Iowa

INDIANAPOLIS — Iowa’s tight ends room left quite the impression on Erick All when he arrived in Iowa City last year.

“I quickly understood exactly why it was called ‘Tight End U,’” the Michigan transfer said, referencing workouts and “stuff that we would do for tight ends.”

It is part of All’s embrace of his relatively short stint at Iowa — seven games until his injury, to be specific — as he prepares for the 2024 NFL Draft.

“I loved every bit of it,” All said of his time at Iowa.

Iowa tight ends coach Abdul Hodge “brought the best out of me.”

“He makes sure that you’re not slacking, you know exactly what you’re doing,” All said.

All especially grew in “understanding the game” while working with Hodge at Iowa.

“The longer you are in college, the more and more confident you are in understanding the defense and knowing where you’re supposed to be at,” All said.

That confidence was evident as All led the Hawkeyes with 299 receiving yards despite only playing in half of the team’s games. The only Hawkeye to have more receptions per game was fellow tight end Luke Lachey, who had 10 catches in three games.

Had it not been for a season-ending knee injury, All was at pace to have career highs in every major receiving category.

Even with the injury, his three touchdown receptions in 2023 were a career high. He was an all-Big Ten honorable mention, as voted by coaches and media.

All injured the ACL in his right knee in Iowa’s Oct. 14 win over Wisconsin. All described the injury, which required season-ending surgery, as a “little bump in the road.”

All will not be testing at the combine, but believes he is “very close” to being 100 percent medically.

"I feel healthy now,“ All said. ”It’s just a matter of time. Everything has to heal from surgery.“

The healing process, despite All’s optimism, is usually not quick for an ACL injury. Cade McNamara, for example, suffered his injury on Sept. 30; Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz told reporters he was hoping for McNamara to be “full speed to go” by the following August.

All had his extra COVID-19 year of eligibility available, but he instead decided to pursue the NFL Draft.

A sixth season of college could have theoretically given All an opportunity to put more on film in 2024. A potentially healthy first few months of 2025 also could have benefited All’s draft stock.

However, All said he is “ready to make the next step for me and my family and to get out there and show the world what I can do.”

“Honestly, I just felt like it was my time,” All said. “I felt like I put a lot of great things on film. I’m getting older now.”

Pro Football Focus ranks All as the 304th-best overall prospect and 16th-best tight end in the draft class.

A big part of All’s pitch to NFL teams centers around his versatility.

“One play, I could be lined up at the fullback and hit the Mike,” All said. “The next play, I could be out in the slot catching the ball downfield high-point. So I feel like I can do whatever a coach asks me to do.”

Iowa’s use of All in 2023 is Exhibit A for his case. The 6-foot-5 tight end worked from the in-line tight end spot, fullback and in the slot at varying points in the season. His 33-yard touchdown reception against Purdue was when he was lined up as a fullback.

All has tried to “take different pieces of games” from different tight ends, whether it be Darren Waller or Iowa alums such as George Kittle, Sam LaPorta and T.J. Hockenson.

Now, he has another two months before learning which team will give him a shot at joining those names on an NFL roster.

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com

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