Luke Lachey announces decision to return to Iowa for 2024 season

Iowa Hawkeyes tight end Luke Lachey has made a decision on the 2024 NFL Draft. He has officially decided to return to the program for the 2024 season.

The Hawkeyes announced the news on social media on Friday, adding the caption, “Back For More,” along with a graphic of the tight end.

More big news for Iowa football, tight end Luke Lachey posts that he’ll return for another season with the #Hawkeyes. He’s been missed since his ankle injury. pic.twitter.com/dIUc65hqoW

— Keith Murphy (@MurphyKeith) December 29, 2023

2024 will be Lachey’s fourth with the Hawkeyes. He’s steadily improved in each of the previous three, before an injury ended his 2023 season. All in all, Lachey has caught 36 passes for 662 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns. 

Luke Lachey played high school football at Grandview Heights (OH), where he was a three-star prospect. He was the No. 474 overall recruit in the 2020 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

More on the 2024 NFL Draft

The 2024 NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Michigan, with the first round on Thursday, April 25, the second and third rounds on Friday, April 26, and the fourth through seventh rounds on Saturday, April 27.

Players will have the opportunity to solidify their draft stock at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, to be held in Indianapolis, Indiana from February 26 through March 4.

The three-day event will be broadcasted throughout the weekend on ESPN and NFL Network.

To be eligible for the NFL Draft, players must be at least three years removed from their final year of high school while having used up their collegiate eligibility. Underclassmen are able to request league approval to become eligible for the draft, as are players who have graduated prior to using up all of their collegiate eligibility.

Last season, 69 players were granted special eligibility for the 2023 NFL Draft. 13 underclassmen who had completed their college degrees were also deemed eligible to be selected.

The deadline to declare for the 2024 NFL Draft is on January 15. NFL teams will receive a full list of eligible players in the class on January 19.