Outside of the offensive line, there’s been no position that Iowa has developed better during Kirk Ferentz’s tenure than tight ends.
Every year, it seems like the Hawkeyes have one or two high-caliber tight ends on the roster to play with. That’s rung especially true over the past decade. George Kittle, T.J. Hockenson, Noah Fant, and Sam LaPorta have all come out of the program since 2016 and have gone on to have major success in the NFL. That elite lineage has a great chance of continuing in 2026.
Once again, Iowa boasts a strong tight end room entering next season. There are young, rising stars at the top leading the way, with proven veterans providing valuable depth. Which young guys are in line for big roles in 2026? And who are the key depth options that fans may have forgotten about?
This is the fourth part of my 2026 Iowa positional preview. We’ve gone through the quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers. Now it’s time to round out the skill position groups with a look at the tight ends.
Projected starter: D.J. Vonnahme
2025 stats: 29 receptions, 434 yards, 3 TD’s
D.J. Vonnahme burst onto the scene in the back half of the 2025 season. As just a redshirt freshman, he became the go-to weapon for Mark Gronowski, putting together some monster performances in big games. Four catches for 59 yards against USC. Three grabs for 91 yards and a touchdown in Lincoln. And his magnum opus was a seven-reception, 146-yard, one-touchdown game in the bowl victory over Vanderbilt.
Vonnahme’s route-running was a sight to see, as he found ways to consistently get open against different defenses. He used his 6-foot-4 frame to make contested catches, and he showed off more speed than many thought he had. Vonnahme didn’t stat pad against bad teams. He performed in the biggest moments in the biggest games. He looks primed to have a huge 2026 season and will be a starter in the season-opener.
Projected backup: Thomas Meyer
2025 stats: Didn’t accumulate any counting stats
Iowa could go a variety of different ways with the backup tight end spot, but I’m choosing to go with the upside play. Thomas Meyer didn’t catch a single pass as a true freshman in 2025. Despite that, his upside is the highest of any non-Vonnahme tight end on the roster. He was a four-star recruit in Iowa’s 2025 class, garnering a ton of interest during his recruitment.
In high school, he showed he could be a great blocking tight end with high-level receiving skills to pair with that. He is of a similar size to Vonnahme and will only be a redshirt freshman in 2026. There are more proven options who’ve been in the program longer that could fit this role. Betting on the upside of a guy like Meyer could do Iowa wonders. The Hawkeyes could have a young, star duo in this room for years to come.
Other options
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: 2026 Iowa football positional preview: Tight ends
Reporting by Zach Hiney, Hawkeyes Wire / Hawkeyes Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Zach Hiney, Hawkeyes Wire | USA TODAY Network
