Hawkeyes’ Sam LaPorta on PFF 2023 NFL draft watch list

As we anxiously await the start of the 2022 college football season, it seems that it could be a question of what total is higher: the number of days until kickoff or the different outlets recognizing Hawkeyes as 2023 NFL draft prospects.

This time we see Sam LaPorta once again included as a top tight end prospect for next year’s draft. Pro Football Focus has included him among their 2023 NFL draft offensive players watch list as a candidate that should only increase his draft stock.

PFF’s Michael Renner believes LaPorta is coming back to improve a draft stock that would have already found an NFL home had the tight end left Iowa City following the 2021 season.

LaPorta likely could have been a late Day 2 pick in the 2022 NFL draft if he declared after a big junior campaign with 53 receptions for 670 yards. He returned to up his stock even more, as the athletic 6-foot-4, 249-pounder has an all-around projectable NFL game. – Renner, PFF

This assessment seems to be becoming the standard for LaPorta. PFF previously came out with their tight end rankings going into this season and have LaPorta coming in as the No. 5 tight end and No. 90 overall prospect.

As Renner mentioned, LaPorta had a great output last season. That output was good enough to lead the Big Ten tight ends in multiple categories such as yards, catches, and more.

Accompanying LaPorta are a handful of other Power Five tight ends. There is the duo of Georgia Bulldogs, Arik Gilbert and Darnell Washington, providing alternative styles. Gilbert is a receiving tight end, while Washington provides blocking efforts. Jaheim Bell out of South Carolina is more underutilized, but is projecting on the flashes he has shown with limited chances.

Former Alabama tight end Jahleel Billingsley now calls Texas home and may be the most naturally talented receiver of the bunch who looks to fine tune intricacies. Lastly, but certainly not least, Notre Dame’s Michael Mayer may be the best of the bunch. His all-around…