Kolar was earlier named to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List, which honors the country’s best wide receiver, after being named second-team All-America in 2019 according to the Football Writers Association of America and first-team all-Big 12.

In a breakout year in 2019, Kolar led the Big 12 in receptions with 51, receiving yards with 697 and touchdowns with seven. Kolar’s 10 career touchdowns are fourth among active FBS tight ends. He was a semifinalist for the award in 2019 and is one of the favorites to be a finalist this season.

Kolar (6-foot-6, 257 pounds) is also listed on the Biletnikoff Award watch list and the 2020 Preseason All-Big 12 Team.

LaPorta, one of just three sophomores on the Mackey Award’s 36-player watch list, looks to continue the Hawkeyes’ recent tradition of tight ends getting national attention.

Sam LaPorta

LaPorta (6-4, 250) had 25 receptions for 188 yards in 2019, with six of those receptions coming in the Hawkeyes’ bowl win over USC, raising the hype for the Highland, Ill., native.

Iowa has two Mackey Award winners in the 21st century in Dallas Clark (2002) and T.J. Hockenson (2018), while Noah Fant was also a semifinalist in 2018 as well.