IOWA CITY, Iowa (KCRG) – The saying goes “good things come to those who wait.” For Iowa’s Kaden Wetjen, the wide out has always trusted the process and worked for everything he has earned.
After his 100-yard kickoff return against Missouri in the Music City Bowl, it took about a week for Wetjen to get one very important phone call.
“I was out eating with my buddies at a table and I got a call from coach. I thought yeah, I better take this one,” he said.
Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz called to let the Williamsburg native know he was being placed on scholarship.
“Being a walk-on, that motivated me even more. I’m kind of glad I came in as a walk-on. It pushed me to be even better, and it pushed me to this position,” Wetjen said.
The applied pressure from a handful of Hawkeye fans on social media, may have done some good.
“I didn’t really get too involved. That was kind of funny to see,“ Wetjen said. ”I had a bunch of friends send it too. I was like just relax guys. Everything will fall into place.”
After starting his college career at Iowa Western, he chose to walk-on at Iowa. Last season, his 1,055 combined kick return yards led the country. That led to him being named the first Hawkeye to win the Jet Award, which honors the most outstanding return specialist in college football.
“I had a big reflection moment when I was giving a speech at the Jet Award ceremony. I had a bunch of coaches there from Iowa Western. It was just kind of cool to get back with those guys and really realize where I came from, and how I got to this point.” Wetjen said.
In his final year in the black and gold, he won’t be flying under the radar. Some teams stopped kicking the ball in Wetjen’s direction toward the end of the season.
“Well I’m hoping they don’t do it next year, but I’m kind of expecting it,” he said. “When they do kick it, hopefully I make them pay.”
One of the reason’s he decided to return for another year was to expand his role as a wide receiver. He hopes the entire Iowa receiving corps can contribute more to the offense this fall.
“I’m trying to push this unit to be the best it’s been in a while. I think we’ve got all the guys. If we can put all the pieces together, we should be real special this fall,” Wetjen said.
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