IOWA CITY — On Tuesday, Kaden Wetjen was announced as the winner of the 2024 Jet Award, which honors the most outstanding return specialist in college football.

Wetjen became a weapon on special teams in 2024 as the Hawkeyes’ full-time punt and kickoff return man. He took a punt for a touchdown against Northwestern in October. Then he returned a kickoff to the house in Iowa’s matchup against Missouri in the Music City Bowl.

Wetjen finished the 2024 season amassing more than 1,000 combined kickoff and punt return yardage.

A standout at Williamsburg High School, Wetjen’s recruiting process in high school was not chock-full of college football’s elites. Division III programs wanted him. NAIA-level Grand View offered. Seth Wallace talked to Wetjen about walking on at Iowa. 

But Wetjen opted to go to junior college, taking his talents to Iowa Western. His time there earned him some recruiting attention but it still was relatively limited. Iowa came around again.

More: Iowa football: How overlooked, undersized Kaden Wetjen has become nation’s top returner

Ultimately, Wetjen decided on a preferred walk-on opportunity with the Hawkeyes over scholarship offers elsewhere, the most prominent of which was FBS-level UMass.

Wetjen worked his way into a bigger role at Iowa over time. He didn’t play in his first season, but in 2023 he led Iowa in kickoff returns and filled in at punt return following Cooper DeJean’s season-ending injury. In 2024, Wetjen had his best season and became one of the nation’s premier returners.

For the second consecutive season, a Hawkeye was named Big Ten’s Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year. DeJean took the honor in 2023, Wetjen did it in 2024.

Ahead of the Music City Bowl, Wetjen indicated he was likely to return to Iowa in 2025, but not yet certain.

“The plan is to come back,” Wetjen said in December. “But I’ll say I’m 98% sure.”

If Wetjen does return, Iowa is projected to return multiple key pieces of its 2024 special teams unit.

Drew Stevens, who was 20-of-23 on field goals last season, is set to come back, along with punter Rhys Dakin, who gained meaningful experience as a freshman.

Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at ttachman@gannett.com

Associated Press

Nebraska Cornhuskers (12-2, 2-1 Big Ten) at Iowa Hawkeyes (10-4, 1-2 Big Ten)

Iowa City, Iowa; Tuesday, 8 p.m. EST

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Hawkeyes -3.5; over/under is 159.5

BOTTOM LINE: Iowa plays Nebraska after Drew Thelwell scored 25 points in Iowa’s 116-85 loss to the Wisconsin Badgers.

The Hawkeyes are 8-1 in home games. Iowa averages 89.4 points and has outscored opponents by 12.3 points per game.

The Cornhuskers are 2-1 in Big Ten play. Nebraska has a 9-2 record against teams over .500.

Iowa averages 10.4 made 3-pointers per game, 1.9 more made shots than the 8.5 per game Nebraska gives up. Nebraska has shot at a 46.2% rate from the field this season, 0.2 percentage points fewer than the 46.4% shooting opponents of Iowa have averaged.

The Hawkeyes and Cornhuskers square off Tuesday for the first time in conference play this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Owen Freeman is shooting 65.2% and averaging 16.8 points for the Hawkeyes.

Brice Williams is shooting 49.1% and averaging 18.8 points for the Cornhuskers.

LAST 10 GAMES: Hawkeyes: 6-4, averaging 90.1 points, 29.3 rebounds, 19.1 assists, 8.4 steals and 5.0 blocks per game while shooting 51.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 79.6 points per game.

Cornhuskers: 9-1, averaging 76.6 points, 33.8 rebounds, 14.0 assists, 7.7 steals and 2.2 blocks per game while shooting 47.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 64.2 points.

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

University of Northern Iowa posted a signature win over Nebraska Sunday at the McLeod Center. Iowa City High claimed Zimmerman Invitational title. Clear Creek Amana boys’, Vinton-Shellsburg girls’ earn runner-up finishes in the Wrestling Weekend That Was.

UNI SHUCKS THE CORNHUSKERS

The 10 th-ranked Panthers earned a marquee victory, defeating No. 4 Nebraska Sunday at the McLeod Center. UNI came up one point shy of knocking off the Cornhuskers last season, but this time they left no doubt in their 24-9 triumph, winning seven of 10 bouts.

“They’re really a good team,” UNI Coach Doug Schwab said in the post-dual interview. “That’s a good win for our program. Feel like things have been building and that’s just evidence for everybody we’re building and where we’re going as a program.”

It was UNI’s first win over Nebraska since 1991, tying in 2000 when current Nebraska Coach Mark Manning was the Panthers’ head coach.

“That’s a long time,” Schwab said. “I didn’t know. None of these guys were alive.”

The Panthers had a little fun with the history lesson. They were quick for a quip on the streak-snapping win.

“That’s on Doug,” 157-pounder Ryder Downey said to extract laughs during the news conference.

“That was my parents’ wedding,” said NCAA champion Parker Keckeisen, who had a crucial pin at 184.

Everything seemed to go UNI’s way. Well, the Panthers imposed their will to force things into their favor. They nearly won all of the key toss-up matches and converted key moves, like Trever Anderson’s takedown at 125, a seven-point cradle from Cael Happel at 141, the third-period comeback from Wyatt Voelker at 197, heavyweight Lance Runyon’s reversals, Keckeisen’s pin and overtime takedowns from Downey and 165-pounder Jack Thomsen.

Schwab noted the performances represented the grit, heart and fight of the program and how the wrestlers trust the preparation for competition.”

“As close as the matches were, we found a way to win a whole bunch of them,” Schwab said. “I think that makes it a whole lot of fun.”

Anderson, Happel, Downey and Keckeisen scored wins over highly-ranked foes. Anderson beat No. 5 Caleb Smith, 5-2, with a second-period takedown. Anderson said he takes pride in providing a spark to ignite the rest of the lineup. He lit the powder keg Sunday.

“It’s my job to go out and start it off,” said Anderson, who was third at the Soldier Salute. “I go out and do that just rolls, like a snowball. It just keeps going.

“I think it’s a job that’s under emphasized … I think it helps the other guys.”

Happel, ranked No. 8, extended his win streak over No. 5 Brock Hardy. He trailed 4-0 in the second when he locked up a cradle for a takedown and four nearfall, fending off a late takedown attempt for a 7-5 decision.

In a battle of top-five wrestlers who met for the second time in a month, No. 5 Downey scored a takedown in sudden victory-1 to beat No. 3 Antrell Taylor, 5-2. The win avenged a loss at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational in December.

Schwab said he isn’t surprised Downey has ascended the ranks and capable of wins over top-tier wrestlers.

“He puts a tremendous amount of time into his craft,” Schwab said. “He works his tail off every day.”

Keckeisen helped set the nail in the Cornhuskers’ coffin that Voelker hammered shut. Keckeisen led 4-1 in the second when he cinched up a cradle for his second takedown and flattened unbeaten and fifth-ranked Silas Allred for a pin in 3:38. Keckeisen was asked if he was looking for a cradle.

“No,” Keckeisen said. “I was just thinking wrestling.”

UNI improved to 4-0 overall and 2-0 in the Big 12 Conference. The Panthers have notable dual wins over South Dakota State, Missouri and now Nebraska. They next step is to have the same effort for each dual.

“You’ve seen indications of our team being able to do that,” Schwab said. “I told our team if we’re going to go from a good team to a great team we have to do that in competition and we have to be consistent with it.”

IOWA CITY HIGH WINS ZIMMERMAN INVITE

Iowa City High started 2025 with success. The Little Hawks scored 234.5 points, beating runner-up Iowa City Liberty by 62, for the team title at Maquoketa’s Zimmerman Invitational.

Kendall Kurtz (120), Chase Williams (126) and 190-pounder Blaine Heick each won titles for City High. Kurtz and Williams won each of their matches with bonus points. Kurtz tallied three technical falls, outscoring foes, 57-11. Williams had a pin and two major decisions.

Laith Alawneh (150), Marshall Sheldon (165), Mason Tilley at 175, Raphael Etuma (215) and heavyweight Shaaban Naim all placed second for City High, which wrestle at Cedar Rapids Jefferson on Thursday.

CLEAR CREEK AMANA RUNNER-UP AT VALLEY DUALS

Clear Creek Amana finished second at the West Des Moines Valley Duals on Saturday. The Clippers went 3-1 with victories over Muscatine (71-7), Ankeny Centennial (40-35) and Dallas Center-Grimes (43-33). Indianola went 4-0 to win the team title, topping CCA 41-29.

Iowa City West went 2-2 at the tournament, tying for third.

VINTON-SHELLSBURG GIRLS’ PLACE 2 ND

Vinton-Shellsburg finished second at the Denver Invitational on Saturday. Waverly-Shell Rock scored 198.5 points, 33.5 ahead of the Vikings.

Chloe Sanders at 140 and Sadie Burke (170) won championships for V-S. The Vikings’ Ellie Weets (115) and Camden Erhardt (130) posted runner-up honors.

LATE HEROICS FOR INDEPENDENCE

Independence received a pin from 190-pounder Braylen Bieber in the final match against Western Dubuque for a 39-33 dual victory Saturday.

The teams split the 14 weight classes, but Independence won all by bonus points. Western Dubuque stormed back with three straight wins to tie the dual before the final match. Bieber capped the win with a 2:20 pin over David Theisen.

The Mustangs are ranked No. 6 in Class 2A, while the Bobcats are No. 14 in 3A.

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com