The postseason honors continue to roll in for the Iowa Hawkeyes, and two names in particular are stacking up accolades like game-day tackles-Logan Jones and Kaden Wetjen.
Let’s start with Jones, the senior center who’s been the anchor of Iowa’s offensive line all season. His dominance in the trenches hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Jones was awarded the Rimington Trophy, given annually to the top center in college football. That’s not just a nice nod-it’s the gold standard at his position.
And the All-American teams have backed that up. He’s earned First-Team honors from Walter Camp, The Athletic, the Associated Press, and USA Today.
CBS Sports slotted him on the Second Team, but with four First-Team nods, Jones officially reaches consensus All-American status. That’s elite company.
Then there’s Kaden Wetjen, whose impact on special teams has been nothing short of electric. He’s been a game-changer all season with his return ability, and the awards reflect that.
Wetjen picked up First-Team All-American honors from Walter Camp, CBS Sports, and USA Today. He also earned a spot on the AFCA All-American list-though, curiously, not on the First Team.
Instead, the AFCA placed Wetjen on the Second Team, opting to give the First-Team specialist nod to Texas A&M’s KC Concepcion. Now, Concepcion had a strong season-460 punt return yards, two touchdowns on 24 returns-but when you stack the numbers side by side, Wetjen’s production tells a different story.
Wetjen racked up 965 total return yards-538 on punts and 427 on kickoffs-and found the end zone four times (three punt return TDs, one on a kickoff) across 33 total returns. That’s nearly double the yardage and double the touchdowns. And unlike Concepcion, Wetjen contributed in both phases of the return game.
If the award is meant to recognize the best all-around specialist-someone who changes field position and flips momentum in a flash-Wetjen’s résumé is hard to argue against. He’s been a consistent spark plug for the Hawkeyes, often setting up scoring chances or cashing them in himself.
Jones and Wetjen have been two of Iowa’s most impactful players all season, and their postseason recognition speaks volumes. For Jones, the consensus All-American status cements his place as one of the top linemen in the country. For Wetjen, the accolades still pour in, even if one major outlet didn’t quite reflect the full scope of his dominance.
Regardless of the AFCA’s decision, both players have left their mark-and they’ve done it in true Iowa fashion: tough, disciplined, and with a chip on their shoulder.