Kaden Wetjen named top return man in Big Ten

Perhaps the biggest no-brainer among the Big Ten Football post season awards was revealed on Wednesday. Iowa return man Kaden Wetjen was announced as the winner of the Rogers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year.

It marks the second straight year that the Williamsburg, Iowa native won this award. He also won the JET Award last year, which is given annually to the top return man in college football.

This season, Wetjen has been nothing short of amazing in the return game. He has returned 19 punts for 538 yards. That’s an average of 28.3 yards per return and he took back three punts this season for touchdowns.

Wetjen also handled kickoff returns. He returned 14 kickoffs for 427 yards and one touchdown. That’s an average of 30.5 yards per return. In addition to his return duties, Wetjen has also had a strong season catching passes for the Hawkeyes. He has 20 receptions for 151 yards and one score.

This season, with his returns for scores, Wetjen scored his sixth, which passes Tim Dwight for the most in the career of an Iowa player. For that this season he was named Big Ten Player of the Week on two occasions.

In addition on special teams, Drew Stevens was named third team by the media this year. Stevens, a three-time all-conference honoree, converted 20 field goals as a senior in 2025, tying a career high. He kicked a career-long 58-yard field goal against Oregon, tying an Iowa and Kinnick Stadium record. The 58-yarder ties for the third longest field goal made in the NCAA this season. Stevens made a game-winning 44-yard kick – his fourth as a Hawkeye — as time expired to beat Michigan State in November. Stevens holds program records in career field goals (74) and makes 50+ yards (12) and is second in all-time scoring (342).

Iowa punter Rhys Dakin was named honorable mention All Big Ten. Dakin punted 39 times in 2025, averaging 43.2 yards per kick, which ranks eighth in the Big Ten. Sixteen of his punts were downed inside the 20, nine traveled 50 or more yards, 18 were fair caught, while only three were touchbacks. The sophomore from Australia kicked a career-long 65-yard punt at Iowa State in September and averaged 57.5 yards on a pair of punts against Penn State.

The Big Ten also announced their All league teams on defense and several Hawkeyes were honored.

Defensive tackle Aaron Graves was a second-team honoree by both the coaches and media. Defensive back Zach Lutmer earned second team laurels from the coaches and third team praise by the media. Defensive backs TJ Hall (coaches and media) and Xavier Nwankpa (coaches) were third team selections. Nwankpa was also honorable mention by the media. 

Other Hawkeye defenders earning honorable mention accolades include safety Koen Entringer (coaches), cornerback Deshaun Lee (media), defensive end Max Llewellyn(coaches; media), defensive tackle Jonah Pace (media) and linebacker Karson Sharar (coaches; media).

Graves has been a dominant defensive force and exceptional scholar-athlete, recording 36 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, five sacks and an interception in 12 starts in 2025. The team captain and William V. Campbell Trophy finalist graduated with highest distinction in 2024 after completing his bachelor’s degree in exercise science in just two years with a 4.03 GPA, and is on track to complete his master’s degree in sport and recreation management in December. 

Lutmer leads the squad with three interceptions (72 yards), is tied for second with six pass breaks-ups, recovered a fumble and ranks fourth on the team with 68 tackles, including 5.5 for loss in 12 starts in 2025. Lutmer’s 34-yard interception return for a score against Minnesota in October extended Iowa’s pick-six streak to 18 straight seasons.

Nwankpa, who started all 12 games and 35 games over his career at safety, is tied for second on the team in tackles (69), tied for first in forced fumbles (2), and also recorded a 28-yard interception return and a quarterback hurry. The native of Pleasant Hill, Iowa, earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week honors following his efforts in Iowa’s comeback win over Penn State.

Entringer started all 12 games at free safety and is tied for second on the team with 69 tackles. The native of Ypsilanti, Michigan, was selected as a game captain for all 12 games as a junior in 2025. He also registered four pass break-ups, 3.5 tackles for loss, forced one fumble, recovered one fumble and was credited with a quarterback hurry.

Hall saw action in 10 games in 2025, starting all 10 at cornerback. The native of Fresno, California, led the team with eight pass break-ups. He also tallied 39 tackles and intercepted a pass in 2025.

Lee saw action in all 12 games in 2025, starting 11 times. He totaled 34 tackles, including one for loss, and ranked second in the team in both interceptions (2) and pass break-ups (6).

Sharar started all 12 games at linebacker in 2025, leading the team with 78 tackles, including a team-high 10 for loss (two sacks). The senior also registered five quarterback hurries, forced one fumble and one pass break-up.

Llewellyn (23) and Pace (18) combined for 41 tackles in the trenches. Llewellyn was second on the team with nine tackles for loss and tied for first in sacks (6). He also had six pass break-ups, seven quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles.