Iowa's Offensive Creativity Could Blossom With TE Addison Ostrenga

Iowa is a traditional offense, but wrinkles have emerged under Tim Lester. One specific personnel grouping for Iowa this year will let them play from multiple looks.

Iowa tight end Addison Ostrenga (87) stands for a portrait during Hawkeye football media day, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in Iowa City. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

As recently as three or four years ago, the Iowa Hawkeyes were one of the most predictable offenses in the country.

Run, run, play-action, or throw it short of the first down. It was exhausting. It was painful. Then came Tim Lester. As Iowa's offensive coordinator, he has breathed life into the offensive scheme.

Iowa is playing in the modern era with RPOs, downfield shots, motion, and disguising looks to make life hard on the defense.

In 2026, Lester has one personnel grouping that will allow him to play out of multiple looks without having to do a lot of shuffling, which makes it hard for the defense to consistently match up.

Iowa can play multiple offenses from the same personnel

Iowa’s Addison Ostrenga (87) scores against Troy Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. | Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

First things first, let's talk through what 11- or 12-personnel is. The first number is the number of running backs in the look, while the second number is the number of tight ends. To find out the number of wide receivers, you have to get to five.

So, 11 personnel is one back, one tight end, three wideouts, and 12 personnel is one running back, two tight ends, and two wideouts.

This year, Iowa has a group that can allow them to play both groupings without any shuffling.

Iowa has Reece Vander Zee and Tony Diaz out wide, has a stable of backs to rotate, and sees the return of another starting-caliber tight end from injury, Addison Ostrenga, to join DJ Vonnahme.

Ostrenga missed the 2025 season with an Achilles injury, but is returning in 2026 and could be the key to unlocking Iowa's offense even more, with the potential to look like Iowa with Noah Fant and T.J. Hockenson.

In this grouping, Iowa can roll with its traditional two-tight end look, but Vonnahme's athleticism allows him to move into the slot and play as a wide receiver. This is where the mismatches happen.

Sullivan drops it in the bucket beautifully to Ostrenga #TEU pic.twitter.com/Z4AvqU6Haw

— Heavens! (@HeavensFX) December 30, 2024

The advantage Iowa has using 12 personnel to look like 11

So, let's say Iowa is running the ball well from 12 personnel, which should be a common sight this year. The defense has to bring in an extra linebacker or sacrifice in the passing game. That's the logic of football.

Tim Lester can now start to play around. Without changing any personnel on the field, he can turn his 12 personnel into an 11 personnel with Vonnahme or Ostrenga moving into the slot with their ability to run, creating a mismatch against a linebacker.

MARK GRONOWSKI TO DJ VONNAHME TOUCHDOWN IOWA pic.twitter.com/e4jkRkcF6F

— Heavens! (@HeavensFX) November 28, 2025

A defense is now caught in a bind, debating whether it places an emphasis on the run game and rolls the dice on a passing game mismatch or brings in a dime or nickel package (extra defensive backs) to take away the receiving threats.

Now, yes, this does all count on Iowa's quarterback play being able to attack effectively out of an 11 personnel look, but that's another conversation for another day.