After making a historic comeback at Kinnick, Kaden Wetjen is named the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week. In college football, there are occasionally moments that seem to transcend the actual game one of those infrequent moments when execution, emotion, and history all come together at once. Iowa fans witnessed one of those moments last weekend at a packed Kinnick Stadium. And appropriately, it came on Senior Day from a player whose name is now inscribed in Hawkeye legend after he forged his way the hard way.
Iowa’s electric return specialist Kaden Wetjen did more than simply turn the tide against Michigan State. He ran right into the record books. The stadium went wild when Wetjen burst through a seam, slipped tackles, and turned on the jets to take a punt back for a touchdown. Even if you were watching on TV, you could still feel the roar in your chest. With that return, Wetjen formally overtook Iowa great Tim Dwight as the program’s all-time leader in return touchdowns. You can tell how big the moment is just by looking at that.
The play wasn’t merely historic, though. It was crucial. In a close game that felt like the epitome of Big Ten football, Iowa needed every point it could muster. Wetjen’s score altered the afternoon’s course in addition to energizing the audience. These kinds of moments are why special teams, which are frequently disregarded, have the power to change entire seasons. It was understandable that the Big Ten took notice. Wetjen won this week’s Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week award, which feels less like a recognition of a single standout play and more like a recognition of what he’s been working toward all year.
Without a doubt, he has been constructing. This season, Wetjen has made almost every kick and punt into an opportunity, making him a must-watch whenever the ball comes into his possession. He is averaging 29.7 yards per return with a touchdown on kickoffs. On puns? With three touchdowns and 28.3 yards per return, he is even better. He now has six return touchdowns over his Hawkeye career, which is even more remarkable when you take into account his unusual route to this point.
Wetjen, who stood five feet nine inches tall, wasn’t your typical recruit. He wasn’t anticipated to be a future Power Five difference-maker or showered with big offers after high school. Rather, he chose what some might refer to as the scenic route, beginning at Iowa Western Community College, where he soon established himself. He played with a chip on his shoulder, the kind that sharpens a player’s edge but never truly goes away. Iowa took notice. He didn’t turn around after that.
Although Wetjen has a lot of speed, it’s not the only thing that makes him so captivating. It’s the lack of fear. the decisiveness. He attacks a return as if he already knows something that the coverage unit does not. When he’s back deep, fans get up a bit faster. They now understand that anything is possible. It is uncommon to feel that electricity and sense of anticipation. It has also been one of Iowa’s most reliable sparks this season.
Wetjen’s explosiveness has become the ideal complement to a Hawkeye team that thrives on defense, field position, and doing the little things right. He uses opportunity, space, and a moment to alter games without the need for lengthy drives or flawless play-calling. He took one last weekend. History, victory, and a well-earned conference award followed. Not bad for a player who was previously disregarded. He’s definitely not being ignored by Iowa anymore.
