Kaden Wetjen wins Big Ten Return Specialist of the Year, two Hawkeyes earn defensive honors

IOWA CITY — The Hawkeyes knew their returner was special. Once again, he proved the rest of the conference right.

Iowa football returner Kaden Wetjen earned the Big Ten’s Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year, the conference announced Wednesday morning. This is the second time Wetjen has earned the honor, after securing it last season.

It’s the first time a player has repeated the conference award.

Wetjen is tied for most punt returns for touchdowns in all of college football, alongside South Carolina’s Vicari Swain. Wetjen secured his third punt return for a score against Michigan State, breaking the Hawkeyes’ program record for most returns for a score, set by Tim Dwight.

Wetjen had 19 punt returns for 538 yards, averaging 28.3 yards per return. He had 14 kickoff returns for 427 yards, averaging 30.5 yards per return.

The senior is also a Jet Award finalist, trying to make a case to become the first player to win back-to-back Jet Awards. He’s the only player in Big Ten history with three punt return for scores and a kick return for a score in a season — and the only player in the country with a rushing, receiving, punt return and kickoff return for a touchdown this season.

Kicker Drew Stevens earned a third-team selection for All-Big Ten Special Teams for the third consecutive season.

The Hawkeyes also had two players earn All-Big Ten Second Team defensive honors. Defensive back Zach Lutmer and defensive lineman Aaron Graves both earned those honors, with Lutmer being a coaches selection.

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Lutmer recorded 68 tackles, including three interceptions — one of which being Iowa’s lone pick-6 of the season. Graves recorded 36 tackles, including 6.5 tackles-for-loss and five sacks. Graves also recorded an interception during his senior year.

Defensive backs TJ Hall and Xavier Nwankpa were third-team selections by the Big Ten, with Nwankpa earning the nod via the coaches selection.

Hall recorded 39 tackles in his senior season, including an interception and a team-high eight pass breakups. Nwankpa had the third-most tackles on the Hawkeye defense, recording 69 tackles and a TFL. He recorded an interception of his own, along with two forced fumbles.

Six additional Hawkeyes received honorable mentions for either special teams or defense. The Big Ten announces its offensive awards Thursday.

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