IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa senior return specialist Kaden Wetjen has been named Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week following his performance in the Hawkeyes’ Homecoming victory over Northwestern. The announcement was made Monday by the Big Ten Conference office.

Wetjen (5-foot-10, 196 pounds) finished with 176 return yards against the Wildcats, including an 85-yard punt return for a touchdown in the third quarter. The 85-yard punt return for a score is a career long and the seventh longest punt return for a touchdown in program history.

The Williamsburg, Iowa, native has posted three straight games with 100+ return yards. He is the first Iowa player since at least 1978 with 100+ kickoff/punt return yards in three consecutive games. The last Big Ten player to accomplish the feat was Maryland’s Javon Leake in 2019.

Wetjen leads the country with 692 combined kick return yards, ranking eighth in punt returns (13.7) and 12th in kickoff returns (25.4). He is one of 40 players nationally to return a punt for a touchdown this season. Wetjen is also a candidate for the annual Jet Award, which recognizes college football’s top return specialist.

Wetjen is the third Hawkeye to earn Big Ten weekly honors this season. Kaleb Johnson was recognized with the offensive honor following his performance in Iowa’s win at Minnesota, while Aaron Graves was honored with the defensive accolade after the win over Washington.

Iowa (5-3, 3-2) returns to action on Saturday versus Wisconsin (5-3, 3-2). Kickoff for that contest is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. (CT) on Duke Slater Field at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City. The game will be televised on NBC and broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network.