Reigning Jet Award honoree, Wetjen, named to 2025 Watch List

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IOWA CITY, Iowa - University of Iowa senior return specialist Kaden Wetjen has been named to the 2025 Jet Award Watch List, announced by the Jet Award Foundation on Friday.

The Jet Award honors the most outstanding return specialist in college football. Wetjen was the 2024 honoree after a stellar junior campaign.

Wetjen was chosen as an All-American by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and Sporting News, was voted the Big Ten's Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year, and earned first-team All-Big Ten accolades in 2024.

Wetjen's 1,055 combined kick return yards led the country by a wide margin in 2024. He was first in the FBS in kickoff return yards (727) and second in punt return yards (328).

The native of Williamsburg, Iowa, native had two returns for scores in 2024, including a 100-yard kickoff return against No. 19 Missouri in the Music City Bowl. The return is tied for the longest in program history and tied Iowa's longest bowl game kickoff return (C.J. Jones against USC in the 2003 Orange Bowl) and the Music City Bowl's longest kickoff return (LSU's Leonard Fournette in 2014). Wetjen had three returns for 151 yards against the Tigers, averaging 50.33 yards per return, which is an Iowa bowl game record.

During the regular season, Wetjen also returned a punt 85 yards 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.

The preseason watchlist features 16 standout players from across the nation who have demonstrated exceptional abilities in the return game. The winner of the 2025 Jet Award will be selected by a distinguished panel of voters including members of the FWAA, former winners of the Jet Award, and co-founders Johnny Rodgers and William Reed.

The award, named in honor of Heisman Trophy winner and College Football Hall of Famer Johnny "The Jet" Rodgers, will culminate with the presentation at the Jet Award Gala on April 2, 2026, in Omaha.

The Hawkeyes kickoff the season against UAlbany on Aug. 30 at Kinnick Stadium beginning at 5 p.m. (CT).

HAWKEYES ON 2025 WATCH LISTS

* Rhys Dakin - Ray Guy Award

* Gennings Dunker - Outland Trophy // Wuerffel Award

* Aaron Graves -- Nagurski Trophy

* Mark Gronowski -- Maxwell Award

* Logan Jones - Outland Trophy

* Drew Stevens - Lou Groza Award

* Kaden Wetjen - Jet Award