Iowa tight end Sam LaPorta (84) scores a touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Colorado State, Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Ron Johnson)

IOWA CITY — University of Iowa senior tight end Sam LaPorta has been named a 2022 John Mackey Award semifinalist.

Presented annually by the Friends of John Mackey, the award goes to college football’s most outstanding tight end.

LaPorta is one of nine semifinalists and one of three from the Big Ten Conference.

The Highland, Ill., native has 139 career receptions for 1,587 yards. LaPorta leads the team this season with 44 receptions for 458 yards. He ranks first in receptions and second in yards among Iowa’s all-time tight ends. He had nine receptions for 101 yards at Illinois, six receptions for 55 yards at Ohio State, and three receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown at Purdue.

LaPorta leads all Big Ten tight ends in receptions and yards.

LaPorta (6-foot-4, 249 pounds) was voted second-team all-Big Ten by Phil Steele and third-team by league coaches in 2021.

Iowa has had two previous winners of the Mackey Award, including Dallas Clark in 2002 and T.J. Hockenson in 2018. Tony Moeaki (2009), Allen Reisner (2010) and Noah Fant (2018) were also semifinalists for the award.