Addison Ostrenga has ‘grown a lot’ since first arriving at Iowa football

IOWA CITY — As Addison Ostrenga stood in Iowa football’s indoor practice facility last week, he was about 300 feet away from where his dreams once resided.

The soon-to-be-sophomore tight end committed to Iowa in 2020, but not as a football player. He was a baseball commit.

He flipped from future Iowa baseball player to future Iowa football player in 2021 shortly after receiving a football scholarship offer.

The baseball itch sometimes still is there.

“This time of year, I’m starting to kind of feel it because the guys are out there, I see, on the dirt field,” Ostrenga said. “But I’m glad I made the decision (to play football).”

Now one year into his development at 992 Evashevski Drive instead of 960 Evashevski Drive, Ostrenga is among the second-year players who could be a difference-maker for the Hawkeyes in 2023.

Ostrenga appeared in all 13 games as a true freshman.

Before Ostrenga even took a snap in a college game, Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz said Ostrenga “caught our eye” after having “done a really good job” in fall camp.

The Sun Prairie, Wis., native’s role in 2022 was largely on special teams. He played at least one offensive snap in eight games, per Pro Football Focus.

He had a career-high 21 offensive snaps in Iowa’s 13-10 win over Minnesota after starting tight end Sam LaPorta left the game with an injury.

After his first career catch — a 6-yard reception on Iowa’s first drive of the second half — he remembers tight ends coach Abdul Hodge “running down the sideline” to congratulate him.

“It was a really cool moment,” Ostrenga said.

Ostrenga is not quite the same tight end that he was when arriving at Iowa, bulking up from about 230 pounds to 255.

“Physically, he’s grown a lot,” fellow tight end Luke Lachey said. “He was real skinny coming in.”

Now, Ostrenga said he is “feeling good” in the 255 neighborhood.

“In season, I felt a little heavier and slower,” Ostrenga said. “But now with this winter program and everything, I felt like I’ve gotten faster and stronger.”

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His added weight is similar to what other Iowa tight ends have gone through early in their collegiate careers.

Ostrenga was “not as skinny as I was,” Lachey said, when he arrived at Iowa.

Lachey, who is 2 inches taller than Ostrenga, was listed at 237 pounds as a freshman on the 2020 roster. Now, Lachey estimates he’s at 250 pounds and “could probably gain a couple more pounds.”

This year’s spring practices — Iowa will conduct its 10th of 15 practices Tuesday — offer "a really important“ development opportunity for Ostrenga.

“In season, I was kind of learning the playbook and getting things down,” Ostrenga said. “Now, I feel like I’ve kind of understood and (am) able to focus on each route.”

Run blocking also has been “one of the biggest things I’m trying to improve right now,” Ostrenga said.

“In high school, I was mainly a receiver, so I didn’t do a ton of run blocking,” Ostrenga said. “I’ve learned a ton this entire past year.”

That task is especially difficult against Iowa’s defensive line, which is returning several veteran players.

“We have a lot of good D-linemen,” said Ostrenga, who has battled with Max Llewellyn and Cedar Rapids native Ethan Hurkett, among others. “I love going against those guys. They make me better.”

Iowa may have to exercise some creativity to find on-field opportunities for Ostrenga, who is behind Lachey and Michigan transfer Erick All on the depth chart.

However, the lack of depth at wide receiver, coupled with Iowa’s reliance on tight ends in its offense, could lead to more opportunities for a third-teamer like Ostrenga.

“I feel like we’re able to put guys in different positions,” Ostrenga said of the tight ends. “Everybody can kind of play everywhere.”

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com