When it comes to finding diamonds in the rough, few programs do it quite like Iowa. The Hawkeyes have made a name for themselves by turning overlooked recruits into key contributors, and in 2025, they struck gold again - this time with tight end DJ Vonnahme.
A walk-on from Breda, Iowa, Vonnahme wasn’t supposed to be the guy. But when injuries thinned out the tight end room, he stepped in - and never looked back. What started as a fill-in role quickly turned into a breakout campaign, one that’s now earned him a spot on the FWAA Freshman All-American team and a nod on the AP All-Bowl Team.
At 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, Vonnahme brings the kind of size you want at the position, but it’s his feel for the game that really stood out. He ran crisp routes, showed strong hands, and quickly became one of the most reliable options in Iowa’s offense. He led the team with 29 catches for 434 yards and three touchdowns - impressive numbers for any freshman, let alone one who began the season buried on the depth chart.
But if there was any doubt about Vonnahme’s impact, he erased it with a monster performance in the ReliaQuest Bowl. With the lights the brightest, he delivered - hauling in seven catches for 146 yards and a touchdown in Iowa’s 34-27 win over Vanderbilt.
That kind of performance doesn’t just happen. It’s the product of preparation, poise, and a player who seized his moment.
Vonnahme’s rise is the latest chapter in Iowa’s long-standing tradition of player development. It’s a testament to the coaching staff’s eye for talent and the culture they’ve built - one where hard work and opportunity go hand in hand.
For Vonnahme, the future is wide open. And if his freshman year is any indication, he’s just getting started.