Iowa’s 31-derby Saturday at Kinnick Stadium did more than end with a game-winning kick from second-year kicker Caden Buhr. It also gave the Hawkeyes a chance to make an impression on one of the top young tight ends in the country, and they took advantage.
By the time the night was over, 2028 four-star tight end Israel Johnigan had added an Iowa offer to his growing list.
Johnigan, a 6-foot-4 prospect from Kansas City, Mo., and Center High School, was on hand for a game day visit when Iowa beat Iowa State in thrilling fashion. He came into Iowa City without an offer from Kirk Ferentz and Co., but left with one after sharing the news on social media.
The Hawkeyes are making an early move on a player whose stock is already climbing fast. According to 247Sports, Johnigan is the No. 181 prospect nationally in the 2028 class, the No. 9 tight end and the No. 2 player in Missouri.
He already has a long list of suitors, including Arizona, Arizona State, Illinois, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Penn State, Wisconsin and Northwestern.
Johnigan has also backed up the buzz on the field. Through the first two games of his junior season, he has eight catches for 142 yards and two touchdowns, and he leads Center in all three categories. As a sophomore, he finished with 13 receptions for 213 yards and four touchdowns.
For Iowa, the timing makes sense. The program’s track record with tight ends is well known, and the Hawkeyes are getting in early on a recruit with the kind of profile that tends to draw plenty of attention.
In Other News...
Iowa's Passing Game Has A New Problem After Tony Diaz's Breakout
Tony Diazs fast start has given Iowas passing game a new jolt in 2026, but it also shines a brighter light on where the Hawkeyes can add more balance. The wideout has already become an early focal point, and with the offense looking to lean more on play-action, the tight end spot is the natural place to widen the menu. That has made DJ Vonnahmes emergence especially relevant, with six catches for 67 yards through two games showing he can be part of the answer.
Now the tight end room may be asked to do even more, at least in the short term, because Vonnahme is likely to miss the upcoming game against Northern Iowa. For Iowa, that means another chance for the other tight ends to step into the passing game and help prevent defenses from keying too heavily on Diaz. The bigger question is whether the Hawkeyes can turn that spot into a reliable complement instead of just an occasional wrinkle. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Faces A Frustrating Test It Can't Sleepwalk Through
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The larger concern for the Hawkeyes is the kind of game this can become if they let it drag on. Northern Iowas linebacking group of John Powers, Braden McShane and Kolben Miller has helped keep opponents from finding any rhythm in the run game, which means Iowa cannot assume it will simply lean on its usual script and coast. For a team trying to avoid a frustrating afternoon, the challenge is straightforward enough: take the Panthers seriously early, or risk spending the rest of the game trying to clean up a mess. [Read more 🡒]
Hank Brown Just Put Iowa's Next Challenge Into Focus
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Now the attention has shifted to Northern Iowa, and Brown said the Hawkeyes have already moved into that mindset with their 24-hour rule for putting previous games behind them. It is the kind of reset Iowa leans on after emotional wins, and it leaves the next matchup as the immediate test of whether the early-season poise carries over when the focus narrows from rivalry energy to the business of staying sharp. [Read more 🡒]