When Iowa tight end Luke Lachey suffered an injury in late September, Hawkeyes’ coach Kirk Ferentz didn’t rule out the possibility of Lachey returning late in the season or in the bowl game.
But that hope isn’t going to come to fruition. Meeting with the local media on Monday, Ferentz announced that Lachey won’t play against Tennessee in the Citrus Bowl.
“I don’t think so. His rehab is going really well. He might be close but it just doesn’t make any sense right now. So I don’t think so,” Ferentz said of Lachey’s status.
Lachey played just three games during the 2023 season, catching 10 passes for 131 yards including a seven catch, 73 yard performance in Iowa’s season opening win over Utah State.
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As a sophomore a season ago, Lachey caught 28 passes for 398 yards and four touchdowns. Iowa’s offense is predicated on using its tight ends in the passing game and the 6-foot-6, 253-pound is one of the Hawkeyes’ best receiving tight ends.
Iowa enters the Citrus Bowl with one of the nation’s worst offenses. The Hawkeyes rank 127th out of 130 FBS teams, scoring just 16.6 points per game while throwing for only 123 yards per game. The only three teams that threw for less yards than Iowa this season were Army, Navy and Air Force.
That’s the good news for a Tennessee defense that’s going to be without a number of its top defensive backs for the 2023 season finale. Kamal Hadden remains sidelined with the shoulder injury he suffered against Alabama while Doneiko Slaughter, Brandon Turnage and Warren Burrell have all left the Vols’ program earlier this month.
Tennessee and Iowa face off in the Citrus Bowl at Camping World Stadium in Orlando on New Years Day. Kickoff between the Vols and Hawkeyes is at 1 p.m. ET. ABC is broadcasting the game.
