Iowa TE Eli Johnson is a big-body developmental weapon with upside
Eli Johnson is a 6-foot-5, 250-pound Iowa tight end who entered the 2026 season listed as a second-year player and, after redshirting in 2025, still had not appeared in a game, so the appeal is all about projection right now[7][15]. His profile screams Hawkeye DNA: size, catch radius, and the chance to grow into a reliable in-line blocker in a system that loves tight ends, with recruiting services pegging him as a strong TE prospect and EA Sports giving him a 73 overall in College Football 26[8][12]. If your team wants a ready-made star, he’s not that yet; if you want a high-upside, physical TE with room to develop, he’s absolutely worth the wait.
