Iowa City Today

University of Iowa senior Kaden Wetjen has been named Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week after his performance in the Hawkeyes’ 47-7 victory over UMass. The announcement came from the Big Ten Conference office on Monday.

Wetjen recorded a career-high 216 return yards, including 182 on punts and 34 on kickoffs, as well as a career-best 236 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns in the game. His 182 punt return yards rank fourth-most in a single game in Big Ten history, behind performances by Maryland’s William Likely (233 yards in 2015), Iowa’s Nile Kinnick (201 yards in 1939), and Iowa’s Kevonte Martin-Manley (184 yards in 2013).

In the third quarter, Wetjen returned a punt 95 yards for a touchdown. This play tied both a Big Ten and Iowa record held by Michigan State’s Al Brenner (1966) and Iowa’s Bill Happel (1984). It also set a new record for the longest punt return at Kinnick Stadium, surpassing Bob Longley’s previous mark of 94 yards set against Oregon in 1949. This was Wetjen’s second career punt return touchdown and third overall return touchdown. He is now tied for second place in school history with two punt return touchdowns, alongside Kahlil Hill and Kevonte Martin-Manley. Wetjen and Tim Dwight are also the only players at Iowa to have multiple punt returns of more than 80 yards.

Wetjen scored his first career rushing touchdown with a 20-yard run on a reverse play during the first quarter. According to team records, he is believed to be the first player in Iowa football history to have scored via rushing, receiving, punt return, and kickoff return during his career.

“Wetjen is the first Hawkeye to earn a Big Ten weekly accolade this season. Wetjen has earned Big Ten Special Teams weekly honors twice in his career (Sept. 15, 2024).”

Iowa holds a current record of two wins and one loss this season. The team will next face Rutgers (3-0) on Friday night at Piscataway, New Jersey. The game is scheduled for a 7:05 p.m. Central Time kickoff and will be televised nationally on FOX.