In honor of high school graduations taking place throughout the month, take a look back at some of the top Hawkeye freshmen who were sitting in high school classrooms not too long ago.
It’s May, which means a lot of people are gearing up for exciting things.
That’s right. I’m talking about you, Class of 2026.
Some of you are entering college, which are some of the best years you’ll ever experience. Others are graduating college and embarking on a new, but anxious chapter of life.
We’ve already analyzed some of the top seniors in major Iowa athletics during the 2025-26 season, so it’s now time to focus on the opposite end of the spectrum – the freshmen. These athletes have been in college for one or two years (some redshirts), but they too were just fresh out of high school not long ago.
In honor of high school graduations taking place throughout the month, let’s flip the dial back and take a look at some of the top freshman Hawkeyes of 2025-26. We’ll primarily analyze the three most popular sports (football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball).
Here we go.
Football
TE DJ Vonnahme: Vonnahme may have had the best freshman season of any first-year in 2025-26. The Carroll, Iowa, native began the 2025 campaign as a walk-on, but quickly blossomed into Iowa’s No. 1 tight end and leading receiver by the end of the regular season, finishing with 434 yards and three touchdowns. The Hawkeyes didn’t release a spring depth chart this year, but Vonnahme likely would be the starting tight end for the season opener. Some Iowa fans are already declaring Vonnahme the next great Hawkeye tight end. Watch his film at the end of the 2025 season, and you’ll see that they have a valid point.
RB Nathan McNeil & RB Xavier Williams: After losing Kaleb Johnson to the NFL, the Hawkeyes had plenty of questions at running back in 2025. Kamari Moulton led Iowa with 878 rushing yards, but he wasn’t the only one that produced. McNeil and Williams were expected to play behind Moulton and Jaziun Patterson, but injuries allowed them to get high-level game reps. Williams surprised everyone by rushing for 122 yards and a touchdown against Albany in the season-opener, and McNeil also showcased his raw talent against Wisconsin on Oct. 11.
Moulton and South Dakota transfer L.J. Phillips will certainly get the bulk of the carries in 2026, but don’t be surprised to see offensive coordinator Tim Lester incorporate his young backs in the offense this season.
Men’s Basketball
F Cooper Koch: Koch was just one of two players from Fran McCaffery’s last team to remain in Iowa City and play for Ben McCollum. It’s safe to say the decision worked out well for both sides, as Koch started every game and became one of Iowa’s most reliable outside shooters. Koch scored 18 or more points in three out of Iowa’s final three regular season games and carried that to the NCAA tournament, where he went 4-for-6 in the Hawkeyes’ stunning upset of top-seeded Florida. With Bennett Stirtz gone, Koch will be one of Iowa’s go-to scorers in 2026-27.
G Tate Sage: Is Sage another unheralded recruit turned superstar under McCollum’s guidance? He’s only one year into his college career, but all signs point to the answer being yes. Sage, an initial commit to McCollum’s Drake Bulldogs, followed McCollum to Iowa City and eventually became a key bench player for Iowa’s Elite Eight squad last season. Sage posted 6.1 points and 2.1 rebounds per game, with his best game being the Sweet 16 triumph over rival. Sage recorded 19 points on 6-of-10 shooting in Iowa’s victory, including a clutch triple in the waning minute to give the Hawkeyes a two-possession lead.
Women’s Basketball
G Journey Houston: Everyone expected highly-anticipated five-star recruit Addie Deal to be Iowa women’s basketball’s best freshmen star, but it didn’t take long for that statement to be brutally wrong. While Deal struggled with inconsistency and was even removed from the starting lineup, Journey Houston thrived. The Davenport native quickly won over Hawkeye fans with her consistent play off the bench. Whenever Iowa needed a spark, it turned to Houston. She posted 5.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game during the season, including 16 points in a victory at Purdue.
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HawkeyeRoundtable publisher Brad Schultz has covered the Iowa Hawkeyes since 2023. To send him story ideas, scoops, or criticize his writing, reach him at [email protected]
