This playmaker is changing things for the Iowa Hawkeyes.
The Iowa Hawkeyes (3-2, 1-1) have had an inconsistent start to the season. With nearly half the schedule complete, fans are still waiting for a dependable source of offensive production. A string of injuries has disrupted any momentum, forcing offensive coordinator Tim Lester to shuffle his playmakers on a weekly basis.
The backfield has been plagued by injuries from the start, and the situation worsened when quarterback Mark Gronowski went down late in the fourth quarter of Iowa’s 20-15 upset bid against No. 8 Indiana. Before leaving, Gronowski had thrown for 144 yards and added a rushing touchdown that energized Kinnick Stadium.
Still, one offensive highlight did emerge — former quarterback turned tight end DJ Vonnahme.
“…So the level of growth that a guy like that can have, and you’ve seen it,” said second-year offensive coordinator Lester.
“He had to put on weight first. He had to learn how to block — and quarterbacks don’t usually do that naturally — but he’s learning. And then we got the screen pass to him against Rutgers, and he was able to get out in space a little bit.”
During camp, when Addison “Ort” Ostrenga went down with an injury, DJ Vonnahme was thrust into extra reps, accelerating his development and showing he was ready for the spotlight.
The redshirt freshman appeared in four games last year without recording a stat, but he’s quickly making an impact. Coaches point to his steady mindset, toughness, and resilience — noting that even when he dropped a pass on a well-timed throw from Mark Gronowski, he bounced back unfazed.
Against Indiana, Vonnahme caught four passes for 16 yards, bringing his season totals to seven receptions for 51 yards.
“When we’re drawing up plays, Ort has the ability to create yards after the catch, but DJ just has a natural feel with the ball in his hands,” coaches said. “We’ve got to keep finding ways to get him in space because he’s really good there.”
No Comment! Be the first one.