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Iowa football: Ranking the top five tight ends in Kirk Ferentz’s tenure

By Andrew Wade

Iowa tight end Scott Chandler rushes upfield with a pass against Florida in the 2006 Outback Bowl January 2 in Tampa. Florida defeated Iowa 31 - 24. (Photo by A. Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
Iowa tight end Scott Chandler rushes upfield with a pass against Florida in the 2006 Outback Bowl January 2 in Tampa. Florida defeated Iowa 31 - 24. (Photo by A. Messerschmidt/Getty Images) /
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TAMPA, FL – OCTOBER 03: Tight end Dallas Clark #44 of the Indianapolis Colts runs the ball against Safety Sean Jones #26 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on October 3, 2011 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL – OCTOBER 03: Tight end Dallas Clark #44 of the Indianapolis Colts runs the ball against Safety Sean Jones #26 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on October 3, 2011 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images) /

1. Dallas Clark

Picking Dallas Clark at number one was easy. Hell, the guy has the Big Ten Tight End of the Year Award named after him. If that’s not saying something, I don’t know what is. His catches might not be as gaudy as Scott Chandler’s and his touchdowns aren’t as much as Fants, but what he did for the program goes above stats.

He was a key catalyst in the Iowa football team’s 2002 run to the Orange Bowl. His 43 catches and 742 yards were second best on the team, and it led to him being named a Unanimous All-American, John Mackey Award winner, and First Team All-Big Ten. Sounds pretty familiar to another small-town Iowa guy am I right?

During the 2002 season, he also averaged a ridiculous 17.3 yards per catch which is nearly two yards better than Hockenson’s high of 15.6 and nearly one yard better than Fant’s high 16.5.

Dallas Clark’s two-year run with the University of Iowa football team led to his selection in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts, which is the first team in school history a tight end was drafted in the first round.

Next. Where is each former Iowa five-star recruit now?. dark

It’s not hyperbole to say Dallas Clark paved the way for the success of tight ends with the Iowa Hawkeyes, and for that, he is named the best tight end in Kirk Ferentz’s career.

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