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BLOOMINGTON, IN -
OCTOBER 13: T.J. Hockenson #38 of the Iowa Hawkeyes runs for a touchdown
against the Indiana Hossiers at Memorial Stadium on October 13, 2018 in
Bloomington, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
The
Detroit Lions are currently dominating the Arizona Cardinals, leading them 24-9
in the middle of the fourth quarter. While there is plenty of credit to go
around, rookie tight end
and former Iowa star TJ Hockenson has really shined.
Lions
quarterback Matthew Stafford has completed 20 passes for over 300 yards today.
But five of those receptions for 124 yards have come from the rookie Hockenson,
as did a fourth-quarter touchdown that may have iced the game.
According to ESPN’s Field Yates, the
124 yards by Hockenson also made history.
Hockenson now holds the NFL record for
the most receiving yards by a tight end his pro debut.
Coming
out of Iowa, Hockenson was one of the best tight end prospects in several
years. He had 49 receptions led the team in receiving yards with 760.
The Lions ended up picking Hockenson
No. 8 overall in the 2019 NFL Draft. It was the highest selection for any tight
end since Vernon Davis went sixth overall in 2006.
He was also the highest Iowa selection
since Brandon Scherff in 2015, and only the eighth Iowa player in history to go
in the top ten.
Hockenson is quickly proving to be an
excellent NFL ambassador for the school aptly nicknamed “Tight End U.”
