Wetjen Named Burlsworth Trophy Semifinalist

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa senior return specialist Kaden Wetjen has been selected as one of 10 semifinalists for the Burlsworth Trophy, an award presented to the most outstanding player in America who began his career as a walk-on.

Wejten is leading FBS with 751 combined kickoff return yards and is on Jet Award Midseason List. He is 12th nationally (25.3) in kickoff returns and punt returns (12.9). The native of Williamsburg, Iowa, native had an 85-yard punt return for a score against Northwestern, the seventh-longest in school history. He had 100+ kickoff return yards in three straight games (Washington, Michigan State and Northwestern) in 2024, a first by a Hawkeye since at least 1978.

Joining Wetjen as a Burlsworth Trophy semifinalist are Josh Cameron (WR, Baylor), Shaun Dolac (LB, Buffalo), James Carpenter (DL, Indiana), Bryce Boettcher (LB, Oregon), Sean Atkins (WR, South Florida), Will Brooks (S, Tennessee), Michael Taafe (DB, Texas), Carson Schwesinger (LB, UCLA) and Jackson Woodard (LB, UNLV).

The selection committee will announce the top three Burlsworth Trophy finalists on Nov. 19. Finalists will be honored and the winner will be announced on Dec. 9 in Bentonville, Arkansas.

Iowa has two other semifinalists for national awards: Jay Higgins (Lombardi, Butkus, Bednarik and Lott IMPACT) and Kaleb Johnson (Maxwell).

Iowa (6-4, 4-3) returns to action Saturday, Nov. 23 at Maryland. Kickoff is slated for 11 a.m. (CT) in College Park, Maryland. The game will be televised on BTN and broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network.