No program in the country has done a better job producing tight ends over the last decade than Iowa. That trend looks like it’ll continue in 2026.
The Hawkeyes have churned out George Kittle, Noah Fant, T.J. Hockenson, Sam LaPorta, and Luke Lachey over the past 10 years. All of those guys have gone on to have varying levels of success in the NFL. After a breakout year in 2025, many people believe DJ Vonnahme will be the next great Iowa tight end.
That includes Pro Football Focus, which released its 10 highest-graded returning Big Ten tight ends. PFF has Vonnahme as the sixth-highest-graded returner in the conference. Vonnahme earned a 68.0 grade last season.
Highest Graded Returning Big Ten Tight Ends🔥 Get 33% Off PFF+ Subscription: https://t.co/GKa77x09rq
pic.twitter.com/XiNn77sKZp
— PFF College (@PFF_College) July 30, 2026
Vonnahme finished last season as Iowa’s leading receiver, despite not really getting into the action until the midway point. He showcased elite route running and yards after the catch abilities. It culminated in a monster seven-reception, 146-yard game against Vanderbilt in the ReliaQuest Bowl.
With a new quarterback set to start, Iowa will turn to Vonnahme to be a consistent playmaker for whoever wins the job. If his tape last season is any indication, he’ll be able to do just that. And Iowa may be putting another tight end into the NFL sooner than many expected.
Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Zach on X: @zach_hiney
This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Iowa football's DJ Vonnahme ranked among best returning Big Ten TEs
