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One of the college football's most prominent offseason debates is which program truly deserves the "Tight End University" nickname. 

Miami (FL) is always right in the middle of this discussion because it's produced Jeremy Shockey, Greg Olsen, and Jimmy Graham, but Notre Dame (Kyle Rudolph, Anthony Fasano, Cole Kmet), and Stanford (Colby Fleener, Zach Ertz, Dalton Schultz) have been thrown in the hat as well. 

It's an argument that will continue until the end of time, but few can question Iowa's overwhelming case to be TEU. The list of successful tight ends under Kirk Ferentz just continues to grow: T.J. Hockenson, Sam LaPorta, George Kittle, and Dallas Clark. 

All have earned Pro Bowl selections in the NFL, and Kittle may be on his way to the Pro Football Hall of Fame if he can stay healthy and finish his career strong. 

It's too early to predict anything, but if the rest of his Hawkeye career plays out just like the end of his 2025 season did, third-year DJ Vonnahme could add his name to that star-studded list. 

But Vonnahme isn't the only tight end to watch in 2026. Every man in the room right now is a dangerous threat in Tim Lester's improving offense, and Iowa fans are excited to see how things play out. 

Here's your 2026 Iowa football tight end preview. 

The Stars 

DJ Vonnahme: Vonnahme is one of the best stories in college football right now. No one outside of Iowa had heard of the walk-on redshirt freshman from Carroll before the 2025 campaign, but Vonnahme's name is well-known now. He didn't earn much action until November, but once he finally got out there, he became the No. 1 option for Mark Gronowski. 

The 91-yard, one touchdown performance in the regular season finale at Nebraska raised eyebrows, and Vonnahme responded by totaling 146 yards and a score in the ReliaQuest Bowl triumph over Vanderbilt. There's a lot of tight ends at the college level that are slow and lanky, but the 6-foot-4, 241-pound Vonnahme is far from being one of them. He's got so much natural ability that it's almost intimidating to watch. The route-running, body control, and speed and strength after the catch are always on full display. 

Vonnahme ended up being Iowa's leading receiver last year, and one can't help but think he'll be one of the main targets for the winner of the Hawkeyes' ongoing quarterback battle. 

DJ Vonnahme. Remember the name. 

Addison Ostrenga: After missing most of the 2025 season due to a torn Achilles, the veteran Ostrenga is healthy and poised to rebound in 2026. Vonnahme is unquestionably the No. 1 tight end in this offense now, but Ostrenga is the perfect No. 2 option because of his experience. He's nearly the same size as Vonnahme (6-foot-4, 249 pounds), and has two years of reps in Lester's system. He only has 46 receptions in his two healthy seasons of college football, but if Iowa wants to confuse defenses with two tight end sets, Ostrenga is probably the name it will use early in the season. 

Other Names To Know  

Thomas Meyer: If there's a name that Hawkeye fans should learn before the season even begins, it has to be Meyer. The second-year took a redshirt year after seeing action in four games last year, but he came to Iowa as a four-star recruit and the No. 1 player in the state of Iowa for the Class of 2025 per 247Sports. He's got the build (6-foot-4, 248 pounds) and the numbers (512 yds and 9 TD during senior year of HS) to contribute in this offense 

Zach Ortwerth: Another depth piece to watch is the 6-foot-4, 247-pound Ortwerth, who's got the experience and knowledge of the system to be a factor this year. The St. Louis native has never had the chance to start consistently but he's done well in limited action, posting 209 yards in eight starts the last two seasons. 

Mason Woods: If the surname sounds familiar, it's because it is. Woods is the son of former special teams coordinator LeVar Woods, and though he's yet to see a snap for the Hawkeyes, having another Woods on the roster isn't a bad thing for Kirk Ferentz. Woods will likely be a special teams player in 2026, but watch out for him down the road. 

You Can Win FREE Tickets To Iowa's Season Opener! 

HawkeyeRoundtable is giving away TWO tickets to Iowa's season opener against Northern Illinois on Sept. 5! 

This is easily the biggest giveaway we've ever done on this site, and it's a great opportunity for two lucky fans to experience the joy of attending a Hawkeye football game at Kinnick Stadium. 

Click here to automatically become a member to enter the contest! Additional contest details can be found in our community section, too! 

HawkeyeRoundtable publisher Brad Schultz has covered the Iowa Hawkeyes since 2023. To send him story ideas, scoops, or criticize his writing, reach him at bradschultz@roundtable.io

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