Zach Ortwerth
Zach Ortwerth
Shows up in the passing game from any alignment. He has spent three seasons in the Iowa receiving corps. One game to point at: 30 rec yds, 2 receptions against Rutgers — Week 4, 2025.
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- positional archetype classification
- seasons on the roster
- game log
Career Arc
Coaching Lineage · 2023–2025
1 coachPlayed his entire career under Kirk Ferentz.
2025 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
Splits & context
Supporting Cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Kirk Ferentz
Career stats
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 18 · 2025
W 34–27
at Vanderbilt
1 rec · 7 yds
A wire-to-wire battle — won by 7 on the road.
How he plays
Play style
No single go-to route — the receiving numbers show up inline and split out alike.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
Iowa
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Tight end · Iowa
Returning around him
- 49% of 2024 offensive production back (Moderate turnover)
- 7 Iowa players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: +7 net (15 in / 8 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Iowa · Last season: 9-4 · Talent rank #42 · 2026 recruiting class #26
DNA match
Player DNA
Complete TE
No single go-to route — the receiving numbers show up inline and split out alike.
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Shelton Zeon III’s 2022 season.
Matches Shelton on
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a junior, his production profile tracks closest to Drew Biber's junior season at Purdue (2024).
Matches Drew on
Differs from Drew on
Development
Development Trajectory · receiving yards
2023–2025+41%
Up 41% from first season to most-recent.