Opportunities loom for multiple Iowa tight ends in 2022

Editor’s note: First in a nine-part series looking at each Iowa football position ahead of the 2022 season.

IOWA CITY — As a tight end, Iowa’s Sam LaPorta has his preferred formations.

“I like to get as many tight ends and fullbacks on the field as possible,” LaPorta said at Big Ten Media Days.

LaPorta might get his wish more often this year.

With injuries and a lack of depth at wide receiver, Iowa’s tight ends — emphasis on tight ends being plural — could have a more pronounced role in the 2022 college football season.

LaPorta is coming off a junior season with a team-high 53 receptions and 670 receiving yards — almost as many yards as Iowa’s next two receivers combined.

The Highland, Ill., native is on the preseason watch list for the John Mackey Award, which goes to the top tight end in college football, for the third consecutive season.

Luke Lachey occupies the No. 2 spot. He played in at least 20 snaps in 12 of Iowa’s 14 games, per Pro Football Focus, while having the benefits of learning from LaPorta.

“He’s taught me a lot,” Lachey said. “He teaches me still today, and we kind of teach each other a little bit. … I’ll try to run routes like him or block like him.”

Iowa has some options at No. 3.

Steven Stilianos, a graduate transfer from Lafayette College with two years of eligibility left, is one possibility, although head coach Kirk Ferentz said he is “still trying to get caught up with our system.”

Tight ends coach Abdul Hodge said Stilianos’ learning process has been “so far, so good.”

“From day one, he’s asked the right questions,” Hodge said. “He’s hitting the ground running. He’s showing up every day, putting his head down.”

Ferentz also has spoken highly of Johnny Pascuzzi — or as Ferentz sometimes likes to call him, “Johnny Jacuzzi” — the tight end who was on the scout team last year.

“Johnny Pascuzzi did a really good job in the spring, continues to practice well,” Ferentz said at last Friday’s media day.

True freshman Addison Ostrenga, meanwhile, looked impressive in the Kids Day open practice.

“He’s handled things pretty well,” Ferentz said of Ostrenga after the practice. “He didn’t seem overwhelmed. So yeah, he’s in the mix.”

With LaPorta, Lachey, Stilianos and other options available, Iowa’s tight ends have embraced the situation.

“It gives us the best opportunity to win if we have three capable tight ends that we can put on the field at any given time,” LaPorta said.

LaPorta doesn’t dwell on the competitive nature of multiple players competing for a finite number of snaps, rather thinking of it as more players who can help the offense.

“I think that’s something that gets skewed in the media,” LaPorta said in Indianapolis. “Like, ‘Sam’s coming back. He’s going to take reps away.’ … It’s for the best.”

The depth at tight end draws some parallels to the 2018 Hawkeyes having T.J. Hockenson and Noah Fant, who both now are in the NFL.

The experienced group of tight ends in 2022 has helped with Hodge’s transition this offseason from coaching linebackers at South Dakota to tight ends at Iowa.

“Any time you’re coming into a new position group and you have a lot of experience in the room, it makes that transition much, much easier,” Hodge said.

Aside from the obvious benefits of having skilled players on the field, it also helps Hodge as he learns how the tight ends room has operated.

“You can ask those tough questions if you get in a bind or whatnot,” Hodge said.

Iowa has another two weeks to figure out how to implement all the tight ends in games. LaPorta or Lachey could potentially play out wide, for example, and create a mismatch with a cornerback.

At the end of the day, though, LaPorta will play pretty much anywhere.

"I’m up for all the challenges thrown my way,“ LaPorta said. ”If I was told to put my hand in the dirt for 75 plays, I would do it without blinking an eye. And conversely, being split out for 75-plus plays — if it’s going to help the Hawks win, then I’m going to do it.“

Comments: (319) 398-8394; john.steppe@thegazette.com