Lukas Van Ness

• Earned second-team All-Big Ten honors from the conference's coaches and media as a redshirt sophomore in 2022, playing both end and tackle and recording 38 tackles (17 solo), a team-high 11 tackles for a loss and 6½ sacks (tied for team lead).
• Was part of an Iowa defense that ranked No. 2 in the country in 2022 in points allowed (13.3 ppg), No. 6 in passing defense (169.5 ypg) and No. 12 in rushing defense (101.3 ypg).
• Earned Freshman All-America recognition from the Football Writers Association of America and the Maxwell Football Club in 2021 after finishing with 33 tackles (17 solo), 8½ tackles for a loss and seven sacks.
• Selected by the Packers in the first round (No. 13 overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft, a pick obtained from the N.Y. Jets as part of the QB Aaron Rodgers trade.
• Became the first defensive player from the University of Iowa to be selected by the Packers in the first round. Was the highest-drafted defensive player out of Iowa since DB Tom Knight was selected by the Arizona Cardinals with the No. 9 overall pick in 1997.
• Earned first-team all-state honors from the Champaign News Gazette as a senior in 2019 at Barrington (Ill.) High School after posting 67 tackles, eight tackles for a loss, 17 QB pressures, five sacks, a forced fumble and a blocked punt.

Career Highlights:

• Selected by the Packers in the first round (No. 13 overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft, a pick acquired from the N.Y. Jets as part of the QB Aaron Rodgers trade.
• Became the first defensive player from the University of Iowa to be selected by the Packers in the first round. Was the highest-drafted defensive player out of Iowa since DB Tom Knight was selected by the Arizona Cardinals with the No. 9 overall pick in 1997.
• Appeared in 27 games on the defensive line during his two seasons with the Hawkeyes (2021-22), recording 71 tackles (34 solo), 19½ tackles for a loss, 13½ sacks, seven QB hits and a pass defensed.
• Earned second-team All-Big Ten honors from the league's coaches and media as a redshirt sophomore in 2022, playing both end and tackle and recording 38 tackles (17 solo), a team-high 11 tackles for a loss and 6½ sacks (tied for team lead).
• Was part of an Iowa defense that ranked No. 2 in the country in 2022 in points allowed (13.3 ppg), No. 6 in passing defense (169.5 ypg) and No. 12 in rushing defense (101.3 ypg).
• Tied a single-game school record with two blocked punts vs. Iowa State on Sept. 10, 2022, earning the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance.
• Earned Freshman All-America recognition from the Football Writers Association of America and the Maxwell Football Club in 2021 after finishing with 33 tackles (17 solo), 8½ tackles for a loss and seven sacks.
• Earned first-team all-state honors from the Champaign News Gazette as a senior in 2019 at Barrington (Ill.) High School after posting 67 tackles, eight tackles for a loss, five sacks, 17 QB pressures, a forced fumble and a blocked punt.
• Was named the Mid-Suburban League Defensive Player of the Year as a senior, helping his team to the state playoffs as a junior and senior.
• Majored in finance.

2022: Appeared in all 13 games, playing both end and tackle and posting 38 tackles (17 solo), a team-high 11 tackles for a loss, 6½ sacks (tied for team lead) and four QB hits…Earned second-team All-Big Ten honors from the league coaches and media as well as The Associated Press and Phil Steele's College Football…Was part of an Iowa defense that ranked No. 2 in the country in points allowed (13.3 ppg), No. 6 in passing defense (169.5 ypg) and No. 12 in rushing defense (101.3 ypg)…Helped the Hawkeyes limit their opponents to 10 points or less in nine of 13 games on the season, the most in the country in 2022…Vs. Iowa State (Sept. 10): Tied the single-game school record with two blocked punts, earning Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week recognition for his performance. Blocked a Tyler Perkins punt on the Cyclones' opening drive of the game, giving the Hawkeyes the ball at the Iowa State 16 to set up a TD three plays later and then blocked another Perkins punt midway through the third quarter to give the Hawkeyes the ball at the Iowa State 20. Added two tackles (one solo), including a stop of RB Jirehl Brock for a 1-yard loss on a third-quarter run…Vs. Nevada (Sept. 17): Finished No. 2 on the team with a career-high eight tackles (three solo) while adding 2½ tackles for a loss and 1½ sacks. Shared a sack of QB Shane Illingworth for a 2-yard loss early in the second quarter on third down to force a punt and then brought Illingworth down again for a 6-yard sack in the third quarter…At Rutgers (Sept. 24): Registered three tackles (two solo), including a 2-yard sack of QB Evan Simon in the third quarter. Also pressured Simon on a first-quarter pass that was picked off by DB Cooper DeJean and returned 45 yards for a TD…Vs. Northwestern (Oct. 29): Posted four tackles (two solo), 1½ tackles for a loss and a sack as the Hawkeyes allowed just 18 net rushing yards. Brought down QB Brendan Sullivan for a 2-yard loss in the third quarter…At Purdue (Nov. 5): Recorded four tackles (three solo) and a sack, bringing down QB Aidan O'Connell for a 15-yard loss on third-and-goal at the Iowa 2 in the second quarter as the Boilermakers were forced to settle for a field goal.

2021: Played in all 14 games, earning Freshman All-America recognition from the Football Writers Association of America and the Maxwell Football Club after finishing with 33 tackles (17 solo), 8½ tackles for a loss, seven sacks and three QB hits…Was tied for the team lead in sacks and led the Hawkeyes in tackles for a loss…Vs. Indiana (Sept. 5): Posted a sack in his collegiate debut, bringing QB Michael Penix Jr. down for a 6-yard loss early in the third quarter on third-and-8 to force the Hoosiers to settle for a field goal…Vs. Kent State (Sept. 18): Recorded a season-high seven tackles (one solo), a career-high 2½ tackles for a loss and a career-best two sacks. Shared a sack of QB Dustin Crum in the end zone for an Iowa safety in the first quarter. Sacked Crum again on a third down in the second quarter to force a punt and then shared another sack of Crum in the fourth quarter…Vs. Colorado State (Sept. 25): Registered three tackles (two solo) and a sack, bringing down QB Todd Centeio for a 5-yard loss late in the third quarter…At Northwestern (Nov. 6): Posted two tackles (both solo) and a sack…At Nebraska (Nov. 26): Racked up six tackles (five solo) and a sack, bringing down QB Logan Smothers for a 6-yard loss in the Nebraska end zone for a fourth-quarter safety to cut the Cornhuskers' lead to 21-18 as the Hawkeyes rallied for the 28-21 win…Vs. Kentucky (Citrus Bowl, Jan. 1): Posted four tackles (two solo) and a sack, bringing down QB Will Levis for a 7-yard loss in the fourth quarter.

2020: Redshirted.

HIGH SCHOOL: Earned first-team all-state honors from the Champaign News Gazette as a senior in 2019 at Barrington (Ill.) High School after posting 67 tackles, eight tackles for a loss, five sacks, 17 QB pressures, a forced fumble and a blocked punt…Was named the Mid-Suburban League Defensive Player of the Year as a senior, helping his team to the state playoffs as a junior and senior…Earned first-team all-conference honors as a senior and all-area recognition from the Daily Herald and Pioneer Press…Also lettered three times in hockey.

PERSONAL: Given name Lukas Reed Van Ness…Born Elgin, Ill. …Has supported the Luke Harrod Hutson Foundation, named after a childhood friend of his, which was founded to provide annual athletic, educational and mission-trip scholarships to support local area athletes and teens in Barrington, Ill. …Visited children's hospitals while he was in college.