By Pat Harty

IOWA CITY, Iowa – From starting his career as a walk-on to now showing signs of being the Iowa football team’s next standout tight end, DJ Vonnahme’s sudden and improbable rise was one of the top storylines from the 2025 season.

The 2024 graduate of Carroll Kuemper High School was buried on the depth chart when the season started.

But then starting tight end Addison Ostrenga suffered a season-ending Achilles injury against Iowa State in week 2; leaving a significant void at a position that plays a key role in the Iowa offense.

Vonnahme would eventually separate himself from the pack, and by the end of the season, he had developed into one of Iowa’s top offensive weapons.

That was never more apparent than Iowa’s 34-27 victory over No. 14 Vanderbilt in the ReliaQuest Bowl this past Wednesday as Vonnahme finished with seven catches for 146 receiving yards, both of which are career highs, and one touchdown.

He also gained 67 yards after making his seven catches.

It was the kind of performance Iowa fans are used to seeing from their tight ends over the past several decades.

And one of those former star tight ends, 1988 consensus All-American Marv Cook, was so impressed with what he witnessed from Vonnhame in the bowl game, and throughout the season, that he shared his thoughts about Vonnahme’s rise with Hawk Fanatic.

“He’s impressive to watch play,” Cook said. “He’s about as natural as I’ve seen at the position. He looks like he’s playing fast, but he’s never rushed and never in a hurry. And I think that’s deceptive to defenders and to defenses. But I thin he’s naturally faster than what people give him credit for.

“And then he’s just a natural ball catcher. It’s so natural when the ball hits his hands. He’s fun to watch.”

Vonnahme played in 12 games this season and led Iowa with 29 catches, with 434 receiving yards and with three touchdown catches. He also averaged 15.0 yards per reception.

His 146 receiving yards in the bowl game ranks second in program history for a tight end, behind Marv Cook’s 159 yards against Ohio State in 1987.

It’s only natural to want to compare the 6-foot-4, 240-pound Vonnahme to previous Iowa tight ends and there is one that comes to mind for Cook – 2018 John Mackey Award winner TJ Hockenson, who now plays for the Minnesota Vikings.

“To me, he’s a thicker version of TJ Hockenson,” Cook said. “He does all three; he does all the elements that you need to be an effective tight end.”

Cook said Vonnhame also has shown a knack for being in the right place at the right time on the field. Cooks used Vonnhame’s touchdown catch in the ReliaQuest Bow, which came on reverse flea flicker, as an example of his field awareness.

“The touchdown down the sideline; he’s initially blocking and it looks like a run play,” said Cook, who played seven seasons in the NFL, earning All-Pro recognition. “And then the linebacker on him, when he realizes oh, he’s not blocking anymore now, he’s running the route, and that was all it took. It was just that slight hesitation by that linebacker and then he had him.

“The linebacker is trying to figure out is this a run or this a pass. And by the time he realized it was a pass, he slipped him and got out in the flat and then up the sideline. and  he’s fast enough they they couldn’t keep up with him.”

Cook wasn’t aware that Vonnahme played multiple positions in high school, including quarterback wide receiver and safety.

Cook also played quarterback in high school before switching to tight end early in his Hawkeye career.

He said there are benefits from having played quarterback.

“One-hundred percent because you understand the concepts and you understand what’s in the quarterback’s mind somewhat,” Cook said. “Obviously, it’s more involved in college.

“But that’s the key; you just want to be where the quarterback wants you and expects you to be when he expects you to be there.”

The fact that Vonnahme played multiple positions in high school speaks volumes about his physical talent, which also has been a key factor in his rise.

Because coaching, preparation and strategy only goes so far. At some point, talent takes over and that’s where Vonnahme has really impressed Cook.

“I don’t know what his speed is but he plays fast,” Cook said. “It’s a natural smoothness to him. It’s like he’s just sliding into these zones, and that’s the beauty of it.

“I think he’s so smooth that people don’t realize how fast he is, and then the next thing you know, he’s on top of you or over the top of the zone.”