Vonnahme Named Freshman All-America

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- University of Iowa tight end DJ Vonnahme has been named to the Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America team, it was announced Wednesday by the FWAA.

Vonnahme is the fifth Hawkeye to earn FWAA Freshman All-America distinction over the last six years, joining punter Rhys Dakin in 2024, offensive lineman Connor Colby and defensive lineman Lukas Van Ness in 2021 and punter Tory Taylor in 2020.

Vonnahme had 19 of his team-high 29 receptions over the team’s final five games and he finished the season with team-bests in receptions (29), receiving yards (434) and receiving touchdowns (3). He had six 20+ yard receptions in the final two games.

The Breda, Iowa, native became the first FBS freshman tight end to lead his team in both receptions and receiving yards in a season since Georgia’s Brock Bowers in 2021. The only other Big Ten freshman tight end to accomplish the feat since 2000 was Minnesota’s Maxx Williams in 2013.

Vonnahme sparked the Hawkeye offense in the ReliaQuest Bowl victory over No. 14 Vanderbilt as he finished with a career-high seven receptions for 146 yards and one touchdown. His performance earned him a spot on The Associated Press All-Bowl team.

His 146 yards receiving are the second most by a tight end in program history (159 by Marv Cook in 1987) and he was the first Hawkeye tight end to have 100 receiving yards since Sam LaPorta (7-122, 1 TD) against Kentucky in the 2022 Citrus Bowl.

The Hawkeyes finished the 2025 season with nine victories, including a 34-27 ReliaQuest Bowl victory over the Commodores.