Wetjen Becomes First Jet Award Repeat Winner

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- University of Iowa graduate Kaden Wetjen has been named the recipient of the 2025 Jet Award, which honors the most outstanding return specialist in college football. Wetjen becomes the first two-time winner of the award, which was introduced in 2011. The announcement was made Monday by the Jet Award Foundation.

Wetjen posted one of the most dominant return seasons in college football history, leading the nation in total punt and kickoff return yards while consistently changing field position and momentum for the Hawkeyes. In 2025, Wetjen returned 21 punt returns for 563 yards and 16 kickoffs for 476 yards. His four special teams returns for touchdowns also led the country.

The consensus All-American also was the recipient of the 2024 and 2025 Big Ten Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year Award.

Wetjen led the nation with 1,039 combined kick return yards (by 301 yards), while also ranking first in punt return average (26.8) and second in kickoff return average (29.8). The Williamsburg, Iowa, native was a three-time Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week in 2025. He is the only Big Ten player to record at least three punt returns and one kickoff return for a score in the same season.

Wetjen is also the first Hawkeye to score a touchdown four different ways in 2025 (rushing, receiving, punt return, kickoff return). He returned a 100-yard kickoff for a touchdown at Rutgers, and had punt return scores of 95 yards (UMass), 62 yards (Michigan State) and 50 yards (Minnesota) this season. 

His 17.67 career punt return average is tops in Big Ten history and the three punt return scores are tied for third-most in a single season in league annals. Wetjen’s 929 total career punt return yards rank 10th most in Big Ten history.

Iowa has had 17 individual national award winners under Moon Family Head Football Coach Kirk Ferentz, including at least one each of the last five seasons: Brad Banks (2002 Davey O’Brien, Top Quarterback; 2002 Associated Press National Player of the Year); Dallas Clark (2002 Mackey, Top Tight End); Nate Kaeding (2002 Groza, Top Kicker); Robert Gallery (2003 Outland, Top Lineman); Shonn Greene (2008 Doak Walker, Top Running Back); Brandon Scherff (2014 Outland, Top Lineman), Desmond King (2015 Jim Thorpe), Josey Jewell (2017 Lott IMPACT), T.J. Hockenson (2018, Mackey, Top Tight End), Tyler Linderbaum (2021 Rimington, Top Center), Jack Campbell (2022 Campbell Trophy & Butkus Award), Tory Taylor, (2023 Ray Guy), Wetjen (2024 and 2025 Jet, Top Return Specialist) and Logan Jones (2025 Rimington, Top Center).

Wetjen will be presented the award at The Jet Award Gala on April 2 in Omaha.

The award is named in honor of Heisman Trophy winner and College Football Hall of Famer Johnny “The Jet” Rodgers. Wetjen was selected by a panel of voters, including media members from the Football Writers Association of America, former recipients of the Jet Award, and two of the award’s founders, Johnny Rodgers and William Reed.

Nationally-ranked Iowa finished the season 9-4 overall and won the ReliaQuest Bowl.