Shrine Bowl Standouts: Kaden Wetjen and a Handful of Hidden Gems Turn Heads in Frisco
FRISCO, Texas - The third day of Shrine Bowl practices is usually a mixed bag. You get flashes of potential, some uneven matchups, and a lot of tape to sort through.
But every now and then, someone grabs the spotlight and refuses to let go. On Sunday at the Ford Center, that guy was Iowa’s Kaden Wetjen.
Now, let’s be honest - Wetjen wasn’t exactly on anyone’s shortlist of breakout wide receivers heading into Shrine Bowl week. His college résumé doesn’t scream "future NFL slot weapon."
In fact, he barely played wide receiver at Iowa, logging just 197 receiving yards over four seasons. This past fall, he only saw 225 offensive snaps.
For some perspective, Florida’s J. Michael Sturdivant played nearly three times that many.
But what Wetjen did do in college was return kicks - and return them well. He piled up nearly 2,500 all-purpose yards, led the Big Ten in kickoff return average in back-to-back seasons, and topped the nation in punt return average in 2025, taking three to the house. That kind of open-field explosiveness doesn’t go unnoticed.
Still, no one expected him to be the guy at wide receiver during Sunday’s practice session. Yet there he was, consistently creating separation, snagging balls in traffic, and looking like a natural despite his limited reps at the position in college.
At 5-foot-8¾, Wetjen fits the mold of a return specialist - quick, twitchy, and dangerous in space. But what stood out Sunday wasn’t just his burst or agility.
It was his feel for soft zones, his ability to find daylight in coverage, and the polish he showed as a route runner. For someone with so little experience at wideout, his instincts were eye-opening.
Iowa might not be known for producing NFL receivers, but it looks like they’ve been sitting on a hidden gem. Wetjen’s showing in Frisco didn’t just boost his stock - it may have rewritten his scouting report entirely.
More Shrine Bowl Risers
Michael Wortham, WR, Montana
We’ve talked about Wortham already this week, but he keeps giving us reasons to bring his name up again.
The Montana wideout - undersized but fearless - made one of the most impressive catches of the week on Sunday, fighting through contact to haul in a highlight-reel grab. His size may raise questions, but his production and consistency in practice are answering plenty of them.
Anthony Smith, WR, East Carolina
One of the more colorful stories of the week - literally - has been Anthony Smith’s helmet.
The ECU receiver has embraced the Shrine Bowl tradition of trading helmet stickers to the max, decorating his lid with logos from Miami to Youngstown State. But it’s not just the sticker collection that’s turning heads.
Smith, who measures in at 6-foot-1⅞ and 189 pounds, has been a quiet riser. He’s lanky, but he’s got speed and reliable hands.
He’s not even listed on the NFL Mock Draft Database consensus board, but after this week, that may change. He’s looked smooth in drills and has the kind of frame that could draw interest as a developmental outside receiver.
Landon Robinson, DT, Navy
"Low man wins" is a football cliché for a reason - and Navy’s Landon Robinson is living proof.
At just 5-foot-11¼, he’s one of the shortest defensive tackles in the Relative Athletic Score database, but he doesn’t play small. Robinson uses his leverage like a weapon, consistently getting under the pads of taller linemen and driving them backward.
He’s checked in at 291 pounds, and there’s room to add more. What you notice immediately is his motor - nonstop effort, snap after snap. He was an All-American at Navy for a reason, and while there will be questions about how his size translates to the NFL, his power and pad level are giving offensive linemen fits in Frisco.
Joe Cooper, OL, Slippery Rock
Every Shrine Bowl has a few small-school surprises, and Joe Cooper might be this year’s best.
The Slippery Rock product is playing guard for the first time this week - and you wouldn’t know it watching him hold his own against Texas A&M’s defensive tackles. Cooper’s technique is raw, but the tools are there.
He’s strong, balanced, and doesn’t back down from a challenge.
Final Thoughts
Shrine Bowl week is about opportunity - and a handful of players are seizing theirs. Wetjen’s emergence as a legitimate receiving threat is the headline, but guys like Wortham, Smith, Robinson, and Cooper are all making strong cases to be on NFL radars come draft season. It’s still early in the process, but Sunday’s session in Frisco gave scouts plenty to think about.
And if this is just the halfway point of Shrine Bowl week? We might be in for a few more surprises.