Ourlads' Profile:
2023 Guide: What Ourlads’ NFL Scouting Services said about SAM LAPORTA:
Iowa | H: 6032 W: 245 40: 4.59 A: 3218 H: 1014 W: 7634
Three-year starter, Highland, IL. Big 10 Tight End of the Year and first-team All Big 10 last fall, third-team All-Big 10 in 2021, honorable mention in 2020. Thick, compact frame with massive, muscular lower body. Utilized inline and split out at receiver. Excellent burst out of his stance, and takes long strides out of his release to quickly accelerate. Great at creating separation as a receiver utilizing foot speed, stutter-steps, and physicality. He shows toughness throughout his routes and will draw mismatches due to his combination of strength and speed. Displays a quick processor to quickly recognize coverages and exploit them to find holes. Soft hands to consistently secure the ball, with a solid catch radius. Quality physicality at the catch point to win contested catches in his strike zone. He is a threat in space with the ball in his hands, and he will accelerate to rack up yards after the catch. A bulldozer with the ball in his hands who will plow forward for extra yards after contact. Shows effort and desire to succeed as a run blocker, and consistently lands his hands inside to win leverage. He needs to improve his ability to square off his routes to take the next step as a route-runner. He shows strain when attempting to make catches outside of his strike zone. Needs to improve overall as a run blocker to take the next step as a player. When taking on defenders head-up, needs to improve his leverage as he allows his man to squeeze inside of him upon engagement. Shows lack of technique to execute blocks with proper form, and will occasionally miss his block in zone and gap schemes. Cannot be relied upon to win at the first level as a run blocker and in pass protection.
2022 Stats: 58-657, 11.3 ypr, 1 TD. OSR:4/15. 3rd/4th round.