The Iowa football program has grown accustomed to having elite tight ends on the roster. This year’s team is no different.
On Wednesday, it was announced that third-year tight end DJ Vonnahme has been named a Mackey Award semifinalist. Named after Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end John Mackey, the award is given annually to the most outstanding tight end in college football.
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The winner exemplifies Mackey’s values of play, sportsmanship, academics, and community. Vonnahme is one of nine semifinalists for this year’s award.
After bursting onto the scene late last season, Vonnahme has blossomed into a strong playmaker in 2026. In nine games, he has 32 receptions for 314 yards and three touchdowns. The 6-foot-4 tight end has had some big games this season, including a two-touchdown performance against Washington. He’s developed a nice rapport with Hank Brown in recent weeks and should continue to put up numbers the rest of the way.
Vonnahme is looking to become the third Iowa tight end to take home the Mackey Award. Dallas Clark won it in 2002, and T.J. Hockenson received the trophy in 2018. It would be quite the accomplishment for Vonnahme, a former walk-on.
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Tony Moeaki (2009), Allen Reisner (2010), Noah Fant (2018) and Sam LaPorta (2022) were also semifinalists for the award.
Finalists for the Mackey Award will be announced on Nov. 24. The winner will be revealed on Dec. 11 during ESPN’s College Football Awards show.
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Iowa football vs Northwestern: Best photos of Hawkeyes’ 24-10 win
Nov 7, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; A Iowa Hawkeyes fan looks on before the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at New Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
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Iowa football vs Northwestern: Best photos of Hawkeyes’ 24-10 win
Nov 7, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; A Iowa Hawkeyes fan looks on before the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at New Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
(David Banks, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Iowa football vs Northwestern: Best photos of Hawkeyes’ 24-10 win
Nov 7, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; The Iowa Hawkeyes come out of the tunnel before the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at New Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
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Iowa football vs Northwestern: Best photos of Hawkeyes’ 24-10 win
Nov 7, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback Hank Brown (9) and wide receiver Alex Eichmann (17) interact on the field before the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at New Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
(David Banks, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Iowa football vs Northwestern: Best photos of Hawkeyes’ 24-10 win
Nov 7, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; The Northwestern Wildcats take the field against the Iowa Hawkeyes at New Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
(David Banks, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Iowa football vs Northwestern: Best photos of Hawkeyes’ 24-10 win
Nov 7, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback Hank Brown (9) passes the ball against the Northwestern Wildcats during the first half at New Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
(David Banks, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Iowa football vs Northwestern: Best photos of Hawkeyes’ 24-10 win
Nov 7, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes wide receiver Reece Vander Zee (2) catches a pass as Northwestern Wildcats defensive back Damon Walters (21) tackles him during the first half at New Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
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Nov 7, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback Hank Brown (9) runs the ball for a touchdown against the Northwestern Wildcats during the first half at New Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
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Iowa football vs Northwestern: Best photos of Hawkeyes’ 24-10 win
Nov 7, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes wide receiver Reece Vander Zee (2) and quarterback Hank Brown (9) celebrate Brown’s touchdown against the Northwestern Wildcats during the first half at New Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
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Iowa football vs Northwestern: Best photos of Hawkeyes’ 24-10 win
Nov 7, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes cheerleaders during the first half at New Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
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Iowa football vs Northwestern: Best photos of Hawkeyes’ 24-10 win
Nov 7, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz on the sidelines in a game against the Northwestern Wildcats during the first half at New Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
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Iowa football vs Northwestern: Best photos of Hawkeyes’ 24-10 win
Nov 7, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz talks to a referee during the first half against the Northwestern Wildcats at New Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
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Iowa football vs Northwestern: Best photos of Hawkeyes’ 24-10 win
Nov 7, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Northwestern Wildcats quarterback Nicco Marchiol (4) passes the ball against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the first half at New Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
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Iowa football vs Northwestern: Best photos of Hawkeyes’ 24-10 win
Nov 7, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Northwestern Wildcats running back Joseph Himon II (6) runs with the ball as Iowa Hawkeyes defensive back Xavier Styles (18) tackles him during the first half at New Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
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Iowa football vs Northwestern: Best photos of Hawkeyes’ 24-10 win
Nov 7, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes wide receiver Tony Diaz (14) catches a touchdown pass as Northwestern Wildcats defensive back Damon Walters (21) defends during the first half at New Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
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Iowa football vs Northwestern: Best photos of Hawkeyes’ 24-10 win
Nov 7, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes wide receiver Tony Diaz (14) celebrates his touchdown reception with tight end DJ Vonnahme (81) during the first half against the Northwestern Wildcats at New Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
(David Banks, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Iowa football vs Northwestern: Best photos of Hawkeyes’ 24-10 win
Nov 7, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes linebacker Cam Buffington (33) tackles Northwestern Wildcats running back Caleb Komolafe (5) during the second half at New Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
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Iowa football vs Northwestern: Best photos of Hawkeyes’ 24-10 win
Nov 7, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes linebacker Cam Buffington (33) celebrates a defensive stop against the Northwestern Wildcats during the first half at New Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
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Iowa football vs Northwestern: Best photos of Hawkeyes’ 24-10 win
Nov 7, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes running back L.J. Phillips Jr. (21) runs the ball as Northwestern Wildcats defensive back Robert Fitzgerald (6) defends him during the first half at New Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
(David Banks, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Iowa football vs Northwestern: Best photos of Hawkeyes’ 24-10 win
Nov 7, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes linebacker Cam Buffington (33) and linebacker Landyn van Kekerix (23) tackle Northwestern Wildcats running back Caleb Komolafe (5) during the second half at New Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
(David Banks, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Iowa football vs Northwestern: Best photos of Hawkeyes’ 24-10 win
Nov 7, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes kicker Caden Buhr (92) kicks a field goal against the Northwestern Wildcats during the second half at New Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
(David Banks, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Nov 7, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes tight end Addison Ostrenga (87) celebrates a field goal against the Northwestern Wildcats during the second half at New Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
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Iowa football vs Northwestern: Best photos of Hawkeyes’ 24-10 win
Nov 7, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes kicker Caden Buhr (92) celebrates his field goal against the Northwestern Wildcats during the second half at New Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
(David Banks, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Iowa football vs Northwestern: Best photos of Hawkeyes’ 24-10 win
Nov 7, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes defensive lineman Kahmari Brown (43) applies pressure on Northwestern Wildcats quarterback Nicco Marchiol (4) during the second half at New Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
(David Banks, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Iowa football vs Northwestern: Best photos of Hawkeyes’ 24-10 win
Nov 7, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Northwestern Wildcats linebacker Kobie McKinzie (2) tackles Iowa Hawkeyes running back L.J. Phillips Jr. (21) during the second half at New Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
(David Banks, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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Iowa football vs Northwestern: Best photos of Hawkeyes’ 24-10 win
Nov 7, 2026; Evanston, Illinois, USA; Northwestern Wildcats defensive back Damon Walters (21) tackles Iowa Hawkeyes running back L.J. Phillips Jr. (21) during the second half at New Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
(David Banks, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
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