If Kaden Wetjen showed us anything during his time in Iowa City, it’s that game-breaking speed can change everything.
Wetjen carved out a special place in Hawkeye history as one of the most electric return men the program has ever seen. Racking up 2,492 total return yards-954 on punts and 1,538 on kickoffs-along with six return touchdowns, Wetjen didn’t need a heavy workload in the passing game to make his presence felt.
Every time he touched the ball, he was a threat to flip the field or take it the distance. Now, with Wetjen graduating, Iowa is on the hunt for the next dynamic playmaker who can bring that same kind of juice.
Enter Javian Jones-Priest.
The Hawkeyes extended a scholarship offer to the 2027 Texas running back earlier this week, and it’s easy to see why. Jones-Priest fits the Wetjen mold-undersized by traditional standards, but with elite top-end speed and the kind of athleticism that pops off the tape. He’s a multi-sport athlete who’s just as dangerous on the track as he is on the football field, and that dual-threat ability has become a key trait Iowa looks for in potential recruits.
Jones-Priest made the announcement on social media following a conversation with Iowa running backs coach Omar Young, noting that the Hawkeyes became the 16th program to offer him a scholarship. And when you look at who else is chasing him-Baylor, Cal, Indiana, Minnesota, Texas Tech, and SMU, among others-it’s clear that he’s quickly becoming one of the more intriguing names in the 2027 recruiting class.
Track speed? He’s got it in spades.
Jones-Priest was named a USA Track and Field All-American and reportedly clocks a blistering 10.49 in the 100-yard dash. That’s not just fast-that’s field-tilting, game-changing speed.
The kind that makes defensive coordinators lose sleep and special teams coaches start drawing up schemes just to get him the ball in space.
Recruiting services are already taking notice. 247Sports ranks him as a three-star prospect, the No. 47 overall player in Texas, and the No. 23 running back in the class. Rivals sees him a bit differently, listing him as the No. 92 overall player in the state and the No. 55 running back, but those numbers could easily shift as the cycle unfolds and more evaluators get eyes on his full body of work.
Sure, he’s still early in the recruiting process, and stars don’t tell the whole story. But what’s clear is this: Jones-Priest is a rising name with elite speed, proven versatility, and a skill set that fits right into what Iowa is looking for as they reload for the future. If the Hawkeyes can land him, they might just have their next field-flipping weapon in the return game-and maybe more.