NFL Future Watch: Sam LaPorta Football Cards, Detroit Lions – Sam LaPorta was drafted by the Detroit Lions with the 34th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. He first starred at Highland High School in Highland, Illinois. He played wide receiver and defensive back. During his time there, he had 3,793 yards and 50 touchdowns. He was a sought-after prospect. LaPorta chose to play with the Iowa Hawkeyes.
In his freshman year, he was third on the depth chart at tight end. He played sparingly in 12 games. LaPorta had two starts and in those starts caught 15 balls for 188 yards.
As a sophomore in 2020, LaPorta had a 71-yard receiving game. He got his first touchdown a few weeks later. In a pandemic-shortened season, he played in eight games and started in five of them. He had 27 receptions for 271 yards and a touchdown.
LaPorta had a better year in 2021, with 53 catches for 670 yards and three touchdowns. He was named Second-Team All-Big Ten, the biggest of his accolades.
In 2022, he caught 58 passes for 657 yards and a touchdown. He won the Kwalick-Clark, Tight End of the Year Award. Then, he was named to First-Team All-Big Ten.
At the 2023 NFL Combine, the 6’3”, 245-pound athlete ran a solid 4.59 in the 40-yard dash. His 35.0” vertical leap and 16 reps on the bench press assured him he would be drafted on Day 2.
LaPorta made the Lions squad out of training camp, then hit the ground running. By the end of September, he became the first tight end to have five catches in his first three games. He was leading all tight ends with 18 catches at that point. LaPorta caught 86 passes for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns. He was named Second-Team All-Pro and a finalist for the NFL Rookie of the Year Award.
NFL Future Watch: Sam LaPorta Cards Worth Collecting
LaPorta’s 2023 Donruss Rated Rookie is a classic card that pictures him in his Lions jersey. It’s a nice entry card for any collector.
A 2023 Panini Prizm Rookie Gear Card Silver Holo is a good choice. The photo shows him tucking the ball and running. Collectors will get a swatch of his jersey and that Lions baby blue that I really like. The hologram adds that high-tech look.
One last card is his 2023 Panini Mosaic Rookie. It shows him catching a pass, and there’s not a lot of logo on this card. Collect him before he possibly wins that award.
NFL Future Watch: Sam LaPorta Football Cards, Detroit Lions – Stats
Statistical image generated on Sports Reference as of 01/21/2024.
NFL Future Watch: Sam LaPorta Football Cards, Detroit Lions – More Resources
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