Kaden Wetjen has had an incredible season that will live on in Iowa City for a very long time. In addition to having a strong year on special teams, the Williamsburg, Iowa, senior authored one of the most exciting and successful return seasons in Iowa football history, solidifying his status as one of the program’s all-time greats.
Wetjen was obviously different from the first few weeks of the season. There was excitement both inside Kinnick Stadium and outside with each punt or kickoff that was directed at him. The numbers revealed an amazing story by the end of the regular season. Wetjen accumulated 538 yards on punt returns and an additional 427 yards on kick returns, totaling 965 return yards. Even more impressively, he found the end zone four times on special teams alone, transforming ordinary plays into pivotal moments that frequently helped Iowa win games.
In addition to helping the Hawkeyes win games, those touchdowns put Wetjen in the record books. He surpassed legendary Hawkeye Tim Dwight to become Iowa’s all-time leader in career return touchdowns with his fourth touchdown of the season, and he now stands alone with six. Overcoming a name like Dwight speaks volumes about the influence Wetjen has had throughout his career for a program that takes pride in tradition and special teams excellence.
The ensuing national recognition was well-earned. Wetjen received one of the greatest individual awards in college football when he was selected as a consensus All-American. He wasn’t alone either, as teammate Logan Jones was named an All-American alongside him, demonstrating Iowa’s ongoing capacity to produce top players in a variety of game phases. As a return specialist, Wetjen was named to the First Team All-Big Ten, further solidifying his reputation as one of the nation’s most dangerous players when he has the ball.
The fact that Wetjen will once more win the Jet Award, which honors the best return specialist in the country, seems like a formality at this point. If that occurs, he will have won the award for two seasons in a row, which is an uncommon accomplishment that highlights his dependability and explosiveness. From directional kicking to completely avoiding him, defenses and special teams units throughout the Big Ten made every effort to restrict him. It didn’t really matter. Wetjen made teams pay when given a small amount of room.
Wetjen’s postseason career won’t end there, despite Iowa supporters’ hopes that he can provide one more spark against Vanderbilt in the Hawkeyes’ next bowl game. He has formally accepted an invitation to the 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl, which will take place in Frisco, Texas, on January 27, 2026. Both Iowa supporters and NFL draft observers were excited about the announcement because the game offers senior prospects one of the biggest platforms to display their abilities.
There is more to the East-West Shrine Bowl than meets the eye. One of the nation’s oldest college football showcases, it was first held in 1925. In front of NFL coaches, scouts, and executives from all 32 teams, it brings together elite seniors from across the nation every year. Weekly practices are frequently just as crucial as the actual game, providing players with numerous opportunities to demonstrate their suitability for the next level.
There is a deeper significance to the event as well. Over two million children have benefited from the care provided by Shriners Children’s foundations thanks to the proceeds of the Shrine Bowl. For a player like Wetjen, whose career has been characterized by seizing every opportunity, it’s a fitting setting that combines football, philanthropy, and opportunity. In Frisco, Wetjen won’t be by herself either.
Max Llewellyn, a fellow Hawkeye, will accompany him, giving Iowa supporters even more reason to watch. This week is Wetjen’s last chance to showcase his quickness, agility, and vision against elite opponents. Additionally, history indicates that it might be a long day if the other team makes the error of kicking or punting him.
Wetjen leaves behind more than just numbers as his time at Iowa draws to an end. Every time the ball finds him, he leaves behind moments like breathless crowds, abrupt bursts down the sidelines, and the sense that something extraordinary might happen. It has been an incredible journey for Hawkeye supporters. It’s just the start of what could be an exciting new chapter for Kaden Wetjen.
