Iowa was well-represented in the Big Ten's end-of-year awards for defense and special teams this season, which makes sense -- the defense was outstanding the special teams weren't far behind. To the extent that Iowa was at all good this year, it was because of those two units. The offense... well, it was present.
But there were a few bright spots on offense for Iowa this season. One of the biggest? Sam LaPorta, who continued the proud tradition of Iowa being TE U. His steady play was recognized by the Big Ten, who named him the Kwalick-Clark Tight End of the Year.
Leading the pack. @Samlaporta leads the B1G tight ends in receptions and yards totaling 53 receptions for 601 yards and a touchdown. @B1Gfootball - pic.twitter.com/TVZKXwmSGB
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 30, 2022
LaPorta is the second Iowa tight end to win the award (created in 2011); T.J. Hockenson was the other Hawkeye winner, back in 2018.
This season LaPorta led all Big Ten tight ends in receiving yards (601) and was second in receptions (53, one behind Purdue's Payne Durham at 54). He only had one receiving touchdown on the season, though of course Iowa as a team had just six receiving touchdowns. Durham had eight receiving touchdowns this season; I assumed that, plus the fact that Purdue won the Big Ten West, would lead the Big Ten to favor him for Tight End of the Year. But I'm happy to be wrong about that -- LaPorta was good this year in a thankless role is a dismal offense.
- #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/ofGc4SiIDK
— Hawkeye Football (@HawkeyeFootball) November 30, 2022
LaPorta was also named first team All-Big Ten by the coaches and media. No other Iowa offensive player earned first team, second team, or third team honors from the coaches or media. Kaleb Johnson and Mason Richman earned All-Big Ten honorable mention nods from the Big Ten coaches, while Johnson and Luke Lachey received All-Big Ten honorable mention honors for the Big Ten media. That seems more than fair, honestly -- Iowa had one of the worst offenses in the modern history of the Big Ten. All-Big Ten honors should be reserved for players who excelled on the field, and there was precious little excellence to be found when the Iowa offense was on the field this season.
Congratulations to LaPorta for being named Big Ten Tight End of the Year.
