Yahoo Sports Sam LaPorta shows out for ‘Tight End U’ with strong NFL Combine
Is there a better school out there at producing tight ends than the Iowa Hawkeyes? They are pumping out one after another at this point.
There is George Kittle, Noah Fant, and T.J. Hockenson all dominating the NFL but behind them is another tight end that might just cause an interruption in crowning the best Iowa tight end in the NFL.
Sam LaPorta would like to insert himself among the conversation of Iowa Hawkeyes tight ends to not only make the jump to the NFL, but also in succeeding beyond expectations when doing so. There were never any questions if LaPorta would play in the NFL. In fact, he stayed an extra year to prove himself. He did that and then some.
The Iowa tight end carries his position with pride. Here are LaPorta’s NFL Combine results, including his tests and some thoughts from NFL scouts and the league.
All you need to know about Sam LaPorta
NFL Combine Press Conference with Sam Laporte TE Iowa.
His answer about the Iowa tradition with the Children’s hospital, legit my favorite answer. pic.twitter.com/ngvIWsCVYP
— J.B. Ellis (@JB_ThePROgram) March 4, 2023
Measurements
Sam LaPorta
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 245 pounds
Arm Length: 32 1/8"
Hand Size: 10 1/4"#RatedRookie | #NFLDraft— The Draft Network (@TheDraftNetwork) March 4, 2023
40-yard dash time
4.59 (unofficial) 💨💨💨 @Samlaporta
📺 #NFLCombine March 2-5 on @nflnetwork
#Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/QngePe1VaT— Hawkeye Football (@HawkeyeFootball) March 4, 2023
Is Sam LaPorta George Kittle?
Tight End University? @HawkeyeFootball pic.twitter.com/ESrlScqknO
— NFL (@NFL) March 4, 2023
The test times
Iowa TE Sam LaPorta at 6-3, 245:
4.59 40
1.59 10
35" vert
10-3 broad jump
6.91 3-cone
4.25 short shuttleThe Patriots should probably take one of these Iowa tight ends at some point.
— Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) March 5, 2023
Broad jump
🧵TE Broad Jump measurements from the #NFLCombine
Zack Kuntz: 10'8"
Luke Schoonmaker: 10'7"
Luke Musgrave: 10'5"
Davis Allen: 10'5"
Brenton Strange: 10'4"
Sam LaPorta: 10'3"
Tucker Kraft: 10'2"
Darnell Washington: 10'2"
Will Mallory: 10'1"#RatedRookie | #NFLDraft— The Draft Network (@TheDraftNetwork) March 4, 2023
Vertical jump
Notable Tight End Verticals
Davis Allen: 38.5
Luke Musgrave: 36
Sam LaPorta: 35
Payne Durham: 34.5
Michael Mayer: 32.5
Darnell Washington: 31— The GOAT House (@GoatHouseNFL) March 4, 2023
Three-cone stud
TE 3-Cone times from the #NFLCombine
Zack Kuntz: 6.87s
Sam LaPorta: 6.91s
Tucker Kraft: 7.08s
Brenton Strange: 7.25s
Brayden Willis: 7.30s#RatedRookie | #NFLDraft— The Draft Network (@TheDraftNetwork) March 5, 2023
Top-100 TE days of all-time
Sam LaPorta is a TE prospect in the 2023 draft class. He scored a 9.25 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 77 out of 1020 TE from 1987 to 2023. https://t.co/DUhUTUN9Nq #RAS pic.twitter.com/W89MU6qlrk
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 5, 2023
Winner of TE combine tests
Sam LaPorta is one of the big winners of today. The torn meniscus appears to be fully behind him, and he looked fast, fluid and effortless during drills. I wasn't expecting a sub-4.6 40.
— Kristopher Knox (@Kris_Knox) March 5, 2023
Show up, show up!
Sam LaPorta on the gauntlet was as perfect as a TE can get. Great hands, straight line, didn't let anything come inside.
He needs the right offense, but super intriguing Round 2-3
— Shane P. Hallam (@ShanePHallam) March 5, 2023
Are we headed to Miami?
The Dolphins have had a formal meeting with Iowa TE Sam LaPorta at the combine🔥 pic.twitter.com/sMU7Z84ZeD
— King of Phinland🐬👑 (@KingOfPhinland) March 4, 2023
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