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Jones, Wetjen named AFCA All Americans

On3 imageby: Tom Kakert7 hours agoHawkeyeReport

Two University of Iowa football players — graduate center Logan Jones and graduate return specialist Kaden Wetjen — have been named American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) All-Americans, it was announced Tuesday by the AFCA. Jones was a first team honoree, while Wetjen was earned second team recognition.

AFCA is one of five outlets recognized by the NCAA to determine consensus All-Americans (Football Writers Association of America, Walter Camp, Sporting News, Associated Press). The Hawkeyes have had multiple AFCA honorees each of the last three years (2023, 2024, 2025).

Jones has already earned first-team All-America distinction from Walter Camp and the AP, as well as being named the recipient of the 2025 Rimington Trophy. The nation’s top center anchors Iowa’s offensive line, which is a Joe Moore Award finalist. The first-team All-Big Ten honoree and Outland Trophy finalist has started 50 career games and has served as a game captain all 12 games this season. The native of Council Bluffs, Iowa, is the top-rated center in the country by Pro Football Focus and has not been flagged for an offensive holding penalty in 2025. Jones’ protection, along with the rest of the line, has helped quarterback Mark Gronowski break school single-season records for rushing yards (491) and rushing touchdowns (15) by a quarterback. Jones and the Hawkeyes have gained more than 200 yards rushing five times and out-rushed their opponents nine times in 2025.

Wetjen was honored as a first-team All-American by Walter Camp last week and is the first two-time recipient of the Big Ten Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year Award. He also earned first-team all-conference honors by both the coaches and media. Wetjen, who is a Jet Award finalist, leads the nation with 965 combined kick return yards (by 260 yards), while also ranking first in punt return yards (28.3). 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 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 28.3 career punt return average is currently tops in Big Ten history and the three punt return scores are tied for third-most in a single season in league annals.

The 2025 Sporting News teams will be announced on Wednesday, followed by the Football Writers Association of America on Thursday.

No. 23 Iowa will face No. 14 Vanderbilt in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Dec. 31, in Tampa, Florida. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. (CT) from Raymond James Stadium.

2025 IOWA POSTSEASON ALL-AMERICA NATIONAL HONORS
LOGAN JONES: Rimington Trophy, Walter Camp, AP, AFCA, The Athletic, USA Today (First Team); CBS (Second Team)
BEAU STEPHENS: AP, USA Today (First Team), On3 (Second Team)
KADEN WETJEN: Walter Camp, AFCA, USA Today, On3 (First Team); The Athletic (Second Team)

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