He’s going to return kicks, but can Kaden Wetjen help Iowa out at wide receiver, too?

IOWA CITY — This is a long and winding reach. But stick with it.

Kaleb Wetjen wore jersey number 21 when he played football at Williamsburg High School. He still has that number with the University of Iowa.

Wetjen was a really good running back for the Raiders as a senior, rushed for more than 1,200 yards. He also excelled in the return game, both punts and kickoffs.

As a kid, the Hawkeyes senior attended a youth football camp in Iowa City that was conducted by Tim Dwight. If you remember, Dwight wore jersey number 21 as a star running back at Iowa City High.

Dwight moved to wide receiver with the Hawkeyes and went on to play multiple years at that position in the NFL. He also was a great returner, taking a kickoff back 94 yards for a touchdown in Super Bowl XXXIII.

Fast and fearless described Dwight. That describes Wetjen.

“It was like ‘Hey, that guy (Dwight) is not that big. I’m not a big person. I can do it, too,’” Wetjen said recently at Iowa’s media day. “It’s been awesome to watch his film.”

A couple of parallels here, you can’t deny. Of course, Wetjen isn’t nearly at Dwight’s level as a football player.

He’s just trying to make some sort of difference for his team in the return game this season. And trying to get some playing time at receiver.

“As funny as it sounds, he's still learning to play football,” Iowa Coach Kirk Ferentz said. “He's getting it down and doing a really nice job. He's got a great attitude, everything you're looking for in a football player. I always say for us to be successful, we need good stories, and it would be wonderful if this is his time to just kind of bust out and play with confidence.”

Iowa’s lack of production from the receiver position has been well chronicled. The 2024 group is a significant question mark as well.

Ohio State transfer Kaleb Brown would seem to have big upside. Seth Anderson got some receptions last season after transferring in from Charleston Southern.

Playing time is out there for the taking under offensive coordinator Tim Lester’s new system. Perhaps Wetjen can do some taking.

“He is really mixing everybody around,” Wetjen said. “I mean, slot, outside receiver, anywhere. It really depends on which personnel is in there. I love it. There is so much movement to it. I feel like the defense, it’s going to be really tough for them to cover, especially with all the guys we have. I think it’s going to be great.”

“The one thing with him is he's got legit speed, and that's something that is a threat to the defense,” said new Iowa wide receivers coach Jon Budmayr. “He's got the ability to take the top off of the coverage, and I think that's something that we have to use. It's an advantage for us.”

Wetjen wasn’t highly recruited out of Williamsburg. Some FCS schools were interested, as were some Division II programs.

But he went to Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, where he returned kicks and punts and played receiver. He and the Reivers played in the 2021 NJCAA national championship game.

Then it was Iowa. He didn’t play at all in 2022 but got into all 14 games last season as the Hawkeyes’ primary kick returner, with a couple of jet sweep runs on offense also on his ledger.

“It’s been awesome to be here,” Wetjen said. “I mean, 25 miles away (from home), everybody is a Hawkeye fan. It’s been great. The whole town of Williamsburg, they have my back, too. Just awesome having a community like that, just knowing that everybody’s got your back whenever you need them.”

“He hasn't played with the kind of confidence (he needs),” Ferentz said. “That kind of sounds contradictory. He is fearless, but (it’s) confidence in what he's doing and how to do things, how to set things up, so his abilities can show a little bit more. I do think he's learning to do that. It's been good. Yeah, it's great to have him on our team.”

Wetjen was asked how he felt about Ferentz’s comment about him still learning the game of football.

“I mean, there is always room for improvement,” he said. “I still have things to figure out. But, yeah, I agree with him.”

“I've been pleased with him,” Budmayr said. “I think he's had kind of a new focus this summer. I feel like he's in a good place and excited for fall camp, and I'm excited to see him continue to progress.”

Comments: jeff.johnson@thegazette.com