Any time Kaden Wetjen gets the football in his hands, something electrifying can happen in a hurry.
Wetjen demonstrated his electricity one final time in the 2024 season with a TransPerfect Music City Bowl record 100-yard kickoff return touchdown in the first quarter against Missouri.
Wetjen wasn’t looking to take all the credit afterwards, though. The 5-foot-10, 196 pound return specialist gave it up to his teammates on Iowa’s kickoff return unit.
“Well, first off, we weren’t expecting to have any returns. They have limited returns, so that was a shock to start off. I mean, I don’t know if you guys saw it. I didn’t really have to do much. There was a huge hole. They gave me a crease, and I think it was Lutmer that was already at the 50 yard line when I popped through.
“But, yeah, all credit to them, man. They did all the work. I didn’t have to do anything,” Wetjen said.
Kaden Wetjen with a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown to put the Iowa Hawkeyes back on top 14-7!
If there was any doubt about putting him on scholarship if he returns next year, this should answer that!
PURE ELECTRICITY WITH THE BALL IN HIS HANDS! pic.twitter.com/G7BGyM9SEK
— Hawkeyes Wire (@HawkeyesWire) December 30, 2024
Wetjen ends his 2024 season with a pair of touchdowns. The Williamsburg, Iowa, native also had an 85-yard punt return touchdown in Iowa’s 40-14 win over Northwestern on Oct. 26.
On the season, Wetjen returned 26 punts for 328 yards and 26 kickoffs for 727 yards. The transfer from Iowa Western Community College also caught three passes for 46 yards and carried four times for 33 yards.
Wetjen recently revealed that he is planning on returning to Iowa for the 2025 college football season.
“Yep, that’s the plan. To come back as of now, so I’m ready to get going next year again, but got to finish this year out,” Wetjen said when asked if he is returning.
“I just felt like it was the best decision for me and, I mean, another year of film wouldn’t hurt to try to get it out there, so yeah, that was the main thing,” he responded when he was asked why he decided to come back.”
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