Iowa’s tight end pipeline has another name in the mix for national hardware.
On Wednesday, third-year tight end DJ Vonnahme was announced as a Mackey Award semifinalist, putting him among the nine players still alive for the honor that goes to the most outstanding tight end in college football. The award, named for Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end John Mackey, also recognizes the winner for play, sportsmanship, academics, and community.
Vonnahme has turned a late-season breakout into a real season-long impact in 2026. Through nine games, he has caught 32 passes for 314 yards and three touchdowns.
His biggest showing came against Washington, when he found the end zone twice. He has also built a strong connection with Hank Brown in recent weeks, and the numbers figure to keep coming as the season rolls on.
For Iowa, the semifinalist nod fits a familiar pattern. The program has long been associated with standout tight ends, and Vonnahme is now trying to join a short list of Hawkeyes who have actually won the Mackey Award.
Dallas Clark claimed it in 2002, and T.J. Hockenson took it home in 2018.
That would be a notable climb for Vonnahme, who came to Iowa as a former walk-on.
The Hawkeyes have had other tight ends reach semifinalist status as well, including Tony Moeaki in 2009, Allen Reisner in 2010, Noah Fant in 2018 and Sam LaPorta in 2022.
Finalists for the Mackey Award will be announced on Nov. 24, with the winner set to be revealed on Dec. 11 during ESPN’s College Football Awards show.
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Now Iowa turns to Northern Iowa to open its in-state stretch, with the Hawkeyes looking to clean up the issues that showed up against one of the nations top programs. There was also some off-court news for the program, as Iowa announced national letters of intent from 2027 recruits Jada Seubert and Khalia Hartwell, a reminder that the staff is still building for the future even as it tries to steady the present. [Read more 🡒]