Iowa football star believed to have set program record

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During Iowa's 47-7 win over UMass that featured history for head coach Kirk Ferentz, graduate senior wide receiver and special teams standout Kaden Wetjen is believed to have etched his name into the program's history books once again.

Wetjen's spectacular 95-yard punt return touchdown against UMass became the longest punt return score ever at Kinnick Stadium and it tied Bill Happel for the longest punt return touchdown in Iowa football history.

But, the Hawkeyes star is believed to have set another piece of history before his latest mesmerizing return.

Wetjen's 20-yard, first-quarter rushing touchdown is thought to have put him in a category all by his lonesome. With his 20-yard rushing score, Wetjen has now recorded a rushing, receiving, punt return and kickoff return touchdown in his Hawkeye career.

It's believed that no other Iowa player prior to Wetjen has accomplished that feat.

Wetjen first found pay dirt in his Iowa career with an 85-yard punt return touchdown in the Hawkeyes' 40-14 win over Northwestern. Then, Wetjen had a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown against Missouri in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl. Wetjen opened the 2025 campaign with a 2-yard touchdown reception in Iowa's Week 1 win over Albany.

And, of course, he completed the feat on Saturday night and went ahead and added a cozy little cherry on top with his electric punt-return touchdown to boot.

"The return game was just outstanding. We just had a big night, but blocking was good, everybody was working for Kaden, and that's certainly a good development for us there.

"I want to congratulate Kaden on being the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week. His career, now he's had a rushing touchdown, receiving touchdown and then both a kick and punt return touchdown. Puts him in a pretty exclusive category, that's for sure. Well deserved. He's a high-effort guy, really does a great job and has been doing that," Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz said of Wetjen earlier this week.

With the Hawkeyes opening up Big Ten play on Friday, Sept. 19, at Rutgers (3-0) from SHI Stadium in Piscataway, N.J., Wetjen will look to use his stellar Week 3 showing as a launching pad for another remarkable season on special teams.

That Week 4 matchup will begin at 7 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on Fox.

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