Lachey handles business, just like Dad | 2025 NFL Draft film review
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Kentucky sophomore linebacker Trevin Wallace tackles Hawkeyes sophomore tight end Luke Lachey in the first quarter. Lachey, who had three catches for 36 yards and one touchdown, finished 2022 averaging 14.2 yards per catch.
Iowa Hawkeyes tight end Luke Lachey quietly went about his business during school. On three different occasions, he was named a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar. The fifth-year senior also earned Academic All-Big Ten honors four straight times. In 2024, the two-time team captain added CSC Academic All-District honors to his resume. All of this after earning Academic All-Ohio honors at Grandview High School (OH).
His father, Jim, is now known as the voice of Ohio State football. He’s been the color commentator for the Buckeyes since 1997. The former Buckeyes offensive lineman was the 12th overall pick in the 1985 NFL Draft. The 10-year NFL veteran earned All-Pro honors four different times for San Diego and Washington.
So can Lachey make an impact at the next level that comes close to matching his father’s? After all, he averaged over 14 yards per catch (28 REC, 4 TDs) playing alongside Detroit Lions Pro Bowler Sam LaPorta in 2022.
Room for improvement
Stymied by a season-ending injury in 2023, Lachey went on to catch just 38 passes over the next two seasons. The former high school wide receiver did not catch a touchdown in either campaign.
Heading into his final season at Iowa, Lachey talked with 93.7 The Ticket during Big Ten Media Days on things he could improve:
“I just feel like blocking was a big thing for me,” Lachey shared at the time. “In high school, I was a wide receiver….so didn’t really block that much then. Coming in here (Iowa), it was like if you can’t block, you can’t play. That was the biggest thing that I tried to learn. Coming from last season, just with being injured all last year…a big thing for me was just being healthy.”
Lachey had his moments working the seams of the field during this year’s East-West Shrine practices. The former high school receiver flashes a feel for using leverage on his routes. While he still needs to improve as a blocker Lachey executed a variety of assignments in that area (blocking) during school (see full profile).
Budding rivalry
And, as for the school rivalry between the former Buckeye and former Hawkeye in the coming years? It was at least avoided in 2024. The Ohio State color commentator broke a streak of 357 consecutive games to attend his son’s Senior Day in Iowa.
“Obviously my heart pulls me both directions, but for the good of my family, I gotta go see Luke and be a parent for this weekend and get a chance to walk out there with my wife Ann and it’ll be Luke’s final (home game at Iowa) Friday night,” Lachey said during Ohio State’s postgame show on Saturday.
Synopsis
At 6’6, 251 pounds, Lachey put together an impressive 35-inch vertical jump and 10-foot broad jump at the 2025 NFL Combine. He did not run the 40-yard dash, but did participate in the event on Iowa’s Pro Day. In watching him run, he’s a build-speed strider when working the seams.
His change of direction (7.18 seconds in the three-cone drill) is adequate when watching him set up defenders. So where could Lachey land in this year’s NFL Draft? Find out in our profile on the former Hawkeye.
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