Erick All, Luke Lachey quickly bonding as potentially one of best tight end tandems

IOWA CITY — Erick All was “feeling great” during winter break as he was hanging out with his uncle, brother, cousin and then-girlfriend.

He was feeling so great, despite having back surgery a few months earlier, that ice skating seemed like a good idea to the transfer tight end.

“I was just dusting these kids,” All said with a laugh. “They were like 8 years old. … I was out there flying.”

He played hockey growing up, so hitting the ice was like “riding a bike.”

All then told tight ends coach Abdul Hodge and Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz, “I’m ready.”

“They were like, ‘Why are you ice skating?’” All said. “At the same time they were happy to hear I felt great. I really forgot about my issue with my back.”

The coaching staff has not forgotten about his back surgery, though.

“I have to be patient,” All said. “They don’t really want to risk anything right away.”

Whenever All is 100 percent ready to go, he will be part of what is likely to be one of the best tight end tandems, if not the best, in the Big Ten in 2023.

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Luke Lachey is the official starter on the spring depth chart after working behind NFL-bound tight end Sam LaPorta, and All is a former all-Big Ten honorable mention from his time at Michigan.

Addison Ostrenga, meanwhile, is in line to be the third tight end after appearing in all 13 games either on offense or special teams as a true freshman.

All missed much of the 2022 season with a back injury that required surgery, but was one of Cade McNamara’s go-to targets at Michigan in 2021. He had 38 receptions for 437 yards, both of which were second-best behind wide receiver Cornelius Johnson.

Lachey had his best season of his career in 2022 — a “big confidence-booster” for the then-sophomore — grabbing 28 receptions for 398 yards and a team-high four touchdowns.

“It helped me going forward into the spring, even in the winter process," Lachey said.

Looking ahead, blocking has been a point of emphasis in the spring.

“I feel like I can improve there,” Lachey said. “And then working on routes as well.”

Lachey has done enough in the spring to impress his relatively new teammate.

“Catches everything, moves well in space,” All said. “He’s just a monster, freak of nature.”

Lachey and All have been teammates for a few months, but have quickly bonded. All waited for Lachey to finish his media interviews Thursday and threw his arm around him as they left.

“He brings out the best of everyone,” Lachey said of All.

All, Lachey said, is a “funny guy.”

“I’ve got a lot of good memories with him so far,” Lachey said. “Hopefully we continue to build some going forward.”

That includes while watching film in the tight ends room.

“I’ll watch him run routes, and I’ll whisper over to him and say some sweet nothings in his ear,” All said.

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com