A special teams player rarely becomes a must-watch on television. A player who can reverse momentum as soon as the ball is kicked in his direction is even more uncommon. Kaden Wetjen became an electrifying presence for Iowa, transforming ordinary returns into moments that uplifted the crowd and changed games.
Wetjen’s path to Hawkeye fame was anything but simple. He saw absolutely no game action when he got to Iowa City in 2022. He was buried on the depth chart, mostly unknown to fans, and far from the record-breaking returner he would become in the future. However, Wetjen had already made a name for himself in Iowa’s record books and established himself as one of the nation’s most dangerous return specialists by the time he finished his college career in black and gold.
During the 2023 season, the first tangible indications of his potential appeared. Wetjen started to establish himself as a kick returner that year, and his explosiveness quickly became apparent. At an astounding average of 23.9 yards per return, he led the Hawkeyes with 14 kickoff returns for 335 yards. The Big Ten’s fourth-place finish provided Iowa with a steady boost in the field-position competition, an area the program has long cherished.
Still, 2023 was only a preview of what was to come.
During the 2024 season, Wetjen really took off, evolving from a dependable return option into a weapon that changed the course of the game. With 1,055 total return yards and two return touchdowns, he demonstrated not only speed but also vision, toughness, and confidence. He received the Jet Award for his efforts, which is a fitting accolade for a player who appeared to be at the top of his game as soon as he touched the ball.
If Wetjen gained national attention during that season, his final year solidified his legacy. He put on another outstanding performance in his final season with the Hawkeyes, amassing 1,039 total return yards and four return touchdowns. Wetjen continued to find seams, break tackles, and create moments that swung momentum in Iowa’s favor even though opponents knew the ball couldn’t be casually kicked in his direction. Wetjen used the spotlight to convey a straightforward but impactful message to college football programs worldwide following Iowa’s season-ending victory in the ReliaQuest Bowl.
“It shows you to not overlook junior college guys,” he said.
Wetjen’s journey to Iowa started in junior college, so that statement was significant. He played a season at Iowa Western Community College before transferring to the Hawkeyes in 2022, where he began to hone the abilities that would later be on display in the Big Ten. Diego Pavia, the quarterback for Vanderbilt, was another well-known figure he met through his JUCO experience. When Wetjen’s Iowa Western Reivers took on Pavia’s New Mexico Military Institute team in the JUCO National Championship, the two came into contact. Wetjen was not satisfied with how the game ended. Pavia won the title after NMMI, a Roswell, New Mexico-based organization, emerged victorious.
Years later, the story came full circle.
Both players’ college careers were symbolically ended when Wetjen and the Hawkeyes defeated Pavia and Vanderbilt in the ReliaQuest Bowl. Pavia became a Heisman finalist, and Wetjen was a consensus All-American and one of the best return men in the country. Both had risen to Power Four football by taking unorthodox paths and earning their dues at the junior college level.
The contrast — and the symmetry — wasn’t lost on anyone.
Wetjen’s career serves as a reminder that talent doesn’t always come with star ratings or a lot of hype. Sometimes it develops subtly, sharpened by perseverance and opportunity. His ascent was driven by perseverance, a strong work ethic, and faith—from no snaps in 2022 to record-breaking seasons and widespread recognition. Wetjen will be more than just a special teams ace in the eyes of Iowa supporters. He was a player who ignited the crowd, changed the course of events, and gave every kickoff the impression that something significant might occur. His journey also sends a clear message to college football as a whole: ignore junior college players at your own peril.
