Iowa TE DJ Vonnahme Named to FWAA Freshman All-America Team — Hawkeyes’ Rising Star Shines Bright in 2025 Season
Iowa TE DJ Vonnahme has etched his name into Hawkeye history after earning a coveted spot on the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) Freshman All-America Team, announced Wednesday. This prestigious honor caps a breakout campaign for the redshirt freshman tight end, who emerged as one of the most dynamic and reliable playmakers for the University of Iowa during the 2025 season.
From the moment the season began, Vonnahme’s collection of standout performances sparked curiosity among fans and analysts alike, but few expected such an electrifying finish. By year’s end, he wasn’t just a contributor — he was a bona-fide offensive force.
A Breakout Freshman Year You Can’t Ignore
If you weren’t familiar with Iowa TE DJ Vonnahme before the 2025 season, you certainly knew his name by January. The 6-foot-4, 240-pound tight end from Breda, Iowa, didn’t just make plays… he made history.
In a season that saw the Hawkeyes claim nine victories, Vonnahme led the team in key receiving categories:
29 receptions — most on the team
434 receiving yards again tops among Iowa receivers
3 touchdown catches leading the squad in scoring receptions
What makes these numbers even more impressive is the context he posted 19 of those receptions in the final five games of the season as his role expanded and the offense leaned into his unique skill set.
And get this: he’s the first FBS freshman tight end to lead his team in both catches and receiving yards since Georgia’s Brock Bowers accomplished the feat in 2021. Only one other Big Ten freshman tight end has done that since 2000.
ReliaQuest Bowl Spark — A Performance for the Ages
The most memorable moment of Vonnahme’s freshman campaign came in the ReliaQuest Bowl, where Iowa faced No. 14 Vanderbilt in a thrilling 34-27 victory.
Vonnahme exploded for a career-high 146 receiving yards and a touchdown, earning a spot on The Associated Press All-Bowl Team for his remarkable effort. That yardage total stands as the second-most by a tight end in program history, trailing only legendary Hawkeye Marv Cook’s mark from 1987.
In that game alone, he showed the kind of clutch performance that makes fans and NFL scouts take notice long contested catches, yards after the catch, and the ability to create mismatches against seasoned linebackers and safeties.
Growth, Grit and a Bright Future Ahead
What makes Vonnahme’s 2025 season so compelling isn’t just the statistics it’s his development arc. Early in the year, he was rotating in on offense, quietly making plays. But as the season progressed, he became a go-to target, especially in high-leverage moments.
Whether lining up in formations to block or running precise routes that turned into chunk gains, Vonnahme showed an advanced understanding of the game for someone in just his first impact season. That’s why the FWAA’s decision to name him among the nation’s elite freshman players makes perfect sense.
This honor also places him among an exclusive group he’s just the fifth Hawkeye in the past six years to receive FWAA Freshman All-America recognition, joining stars like Rhys Dakin, Connor Colby, Lukas Van Ness, and Tory Taylor.
What This Means for Iowa Football
For Hawkeye fans, seeing a young player like Vonnahme shine on the national stage feels like a breath of fresh air. With the 2026 season on the horizon, Iowa’s offensive identity could pivot around his continued growth, pairing his red zone ability with an already stout defense and experienced quarterback room.
It’s one thing to flash talent but it’s another to make history, break records, and deliver in big-time games as a true freshman. Iowa TE DJ Vonnahme has done just that.
And if this season’s finish capped with All-America recognition is any indication, Hawkeyes fans have plenty of reasons to feel excited about what’s next.
