Iowa City Today

University of Iowa senior offensive tackle Gennings Dunker and senior return specialist Kaden Wetjen have been named to the Sporting News Preseason All-America second team.

Wetjen, who is entering his final season with the Hawkeyes, earned recognition after a standout 2024 campaign. Last year, he received the Jet Award and was named the Rodgers-Dwight Return Big Ten Specialist of the Year. Wetjen led all college football players in combined kick return yards with 1,055, topping the nation in kickoff return yards at 727 and ranking second in punt return yards with 328. He scored two return touchdowns in 2024, including a 100-yard kickoff against Missouri during the Music City Bowl and an 85-yard punt return against Northwestern, which was among the longest in school history. Wetjen also became the first Hawkeye since at least 1978 to record more than 100 kickoff return yards in three consecutive games (Washington, Michigan State, and Northwestern). He remains a candidate for this season's Jet Award.

Dunker started 11 games last season on Iowa’s offensive line. His performance helped the unit become a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award in 2024. Dunker earned second-team all-conference honors and was selected for Academic All-District distinction. He is currently being considered for both the Outland Trophy and Wuerffel Award for his efforts on and off the field. Dunker's blocking contributed to Iowa surpassing 200 rushing yards in seven different contests last year.

Iowa opens its football season on August 30 against UAlbany at Kinnick Stadium with kickoff scheduled for 5 p.m. Central Time. Tickets are available through hawkeyesports.com/tickets.

Several Hawkeyes are featured on national award watch lists ahead of the upcoming season: Rhys Dakin (Ray Guy Award), Gennings Dunker (Outland Trophy, Wuerffel Award), Aaron Graves (Nagurski Trophy), Mark Gronowski (Maxwell Award), Logan Jones (Outland Trophy), Kamari Moulton (Doak Walker Award), Drew Stevens (Lou Groza Award), and Kaden Wetjen (Jet Award).

"Kaden Wetjen returns for his senior season after winning the 2024 Jet Award and Rodgers-Dwight Return Big Ten Specialist of the Year, as well as being voted first team all-conference," according to University of Iowa Athletics.

"Dunker started 11 contests as a junior and was a dominant force on the right side of Iowa’s offensive line that was recognized as a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award in 2024," stated University of Iowa Athletics.