Iowa’s passing game already has one clear headliner in Tony Diaz, but the next piece of the puzzle may be the tight end room. That group has long been a signature part of the Hawkeyes’ offense, and Week 3 against Northern Iowa looks like a chance to get it rolling again.
DJ Vonnahme has been Iowa’s leading tight end so far, with six catches for 67 yards in two games. Even with that production, the ball has gone heavily toward Diaz early in the season, and Vonnahme is expected to miss the Northern Iowa game.
That puts Addison Ostrenga, Zach Ortwerth, and Thomas Meyer in line for more work. Iowa’s tight ends have combined for 11 receptions and 98 yards, and the plan has clearly been to feed Diaz as the new element in the passing attack.
That makes the tight ends more important, not less. Their presence in the middle of the field has to matter enough to freeze safeties for just a beat, because that’s often all Diaz needs to create separation.
And once the Big Ten schedule arrives, Iowa is going to run into cornerbacks who can win their share of snaps. The Hawkeyes need Ostrenga, Meyer, and Ortwerth to be part of the answer instead of leaning too hard on Diaz.
Vonnahme’s numbers may not jump off the page yet, but he still sits second on the team in both receptions and yards. After the way he finished the 2025 season, the start to this year has felt quiet by comparison.
Still, his skill set gives Iowa plenty to work with. He can move well for a tight end, threaten the open field, and use his size to work through contact.
When he comes back, the play-action game feels like the best place to unleash him.
That fits what Iowa wants to be anyway. The Hawkeyes are going to lean on the run, which means linebackers will be crashing downhill and safeties will have to respect the backfield action. That’s where Ostrenga, Ortwerth, and Meyer can do damage on crossing routes and other play-action looks that let them catch the ball in stride and build yards after the catch.
There’s no reason not to work on it against Northern Iowa. Every team uses play-action with tight ends moving across the formation.
This week is about getting the timing right and giving Hank Brown and the tight ends live reps together. If the throw is a little off, it can still be completed, but the chance for a bigger gain shrinks fast.
Northern Iowa gives Iowa the opportunity to clean that up now.
In Other News...
Iowa May Have Found A New Weapon In An Unlikely Place
Boston Everitt arrived in Iowa as something of a novelty, an Australian punter learning American football and college life at the same time, but the early returns suggest the Hawkeyes may have uncovered a useful piece. He earned the starting job and has settled in quickly, averaging 43.9 yards per punt in the opening games of the 2026 season while helping flip field position when Iowa needs it most.
What has stood out just as much as the leg is the adjustment behind it. Everitt has been getting steady support from teammates and coach Kirk Ferentz, who has praised his attitude and work ethic as he continues to adapt to life in Iowa. For a program that has long valued hidden edges, the possibility of finding one in an unlikely place is exactly the kind of development worth watching. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Making Another Early Push At A Recruit Fans Will Notice
Iowas recruiting momentum from the Cy-Hawk win carried right into the next day at Kinnick Stadium, where the Hawkeyes extended a scholarship offer to 2028 tight end Israel Johnigan during his game day visit. The Kansas City, Missouri, prospect is already drawing attention as one of the more highly regarded names in his class, and Iowa made sure he left campus with a clear sense of interest.
Johnigans junior season has helped fuel that early buzz, and the offer fits the way Iowa likes to get involved with tight ends before the market gets crowded. With multiple schools already in the mix, the Hawkeyes have put themselves in position early with a recruit fans will want to track, even if the real battle for him is only beginning. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Showed Iowa Fans Something Bigger Than The Rivalry
The tribute to Derek Phillips reached far beyond one afternoon in the rivalry calendar, giving Iowa fans a reminder that some moments in college sports cut through the scoreboard entirely. After the Hawkeye Marching Band members passing, the Nebraska Marching Band honored him by wearing black-and-gold ribbons and performing Amazing Grace at halftime, a gesture that carried extra weight coming from a Big Ten rival and underscored how closely knit the marching band world can be.
Other collegiate bands have also paid tribute to Phillips, while the Iowa Hawkeye Marching Band has said it is dedicating its performances this season to his memory. A GoFundMe has been set up to support his family, and the outpouring has turned this into something bigger than a single game or a single opponent, a shared show of respect that Iowa supporters will not forget anytime soon. [Read more 🡒]