Vonnahme Named to Mackey Award Watch List

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- University of Iowa third-year tight end DJ Vonnahme has been named to the John Mackey Award Watch List on Wednesday. The Mackey Award is presented annually to the country’s most outstanding tight end.

Vonnahme (6-foot-4, 241 pounds) was named a Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) Freshman All-American in 2025 after becoming 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 Breda, Iowa, native hauled in 19 of his team-high 29 receptions over the final five games, finishing the season with team-highs in receptions (29), receiving yards (434), and receiving touchdowns (3).

Vonnahme sparked the Hawkeye offense in the ReliaQuest Bowl victory over No. 14 Vanderbilt, catching a career-high seven passes for 146 yards and a touchdown to earn a spot on The Associated Press All-Bowl Team. His 146 receiving yards marked the second-highest single-game total by a tight end in program history (159, Marv Cook in 1987).

Iowa has produced two previous winners of the Mackey Award: Dallas Clark in 2002 and T.J. Hockenson in 2018. Former Hawkeye Sam LaPorta was a finalist in 2022, while Tony Moeaki (2009), Allen Reisner (2010), and Noah Fant (2018) were all named semifinalists.

The Hawkeyes open the 2026 season on Sept. 5 against Northern Illinois at Kinnick Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3:15 p.m. (CT).