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Iowa prides itself on elite special teams and places a great emphasis on that phase of the game.
The Hawkeyes have boasted the Big Ten's best return man in five of the past eight seasons. Ihmir Smith-Marsette (2018), Charlie Jones (2021), Cooper DeJean (2023) and Kaden Wetjen (2024, 2025) have dominated the Rodgers-Dwight Big Ten Return Specialist of the Year award.
Wetjen won the Jet Award, which is awarded to the nation's top return man, each of the past two seasons. But, with Wetjen off to the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Iowa has big shoes to fill.
On Friday, Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz revealed the current leader in the clubhouse for punt return duties.
"If we were playing tomorrow, which we’re not, you’ll see (Zach) Lutmer back there. He’d be the first guy... Zach’s sitting in the first seat right now, but it could be anybody’s. We’ll see how it all plays out," Ferentz said.
Ferentz said that Iowa has been blessed with DeJean and Wetjen in succession.
"That’s a great illustration of what I think everybody needs to understand. (Kaden) Wetjen was off the charts good. Just off the charts. Not so much three years ago, but the last two years just an exceptional player and he followed a guy who’s also off the charts good, Cooper DeJean. One of the reasons Cooper’s not one of the best returner guys we’ve had is because Wetjen followed him. We’ve been really lucky," Ferentz said.
Ferentz also noted how Iowa has historically enjoyed great play in the returns department during his time at the helm in Iowa City. And he delivered that message in vintage Ferentz fashion.
"Guys like Micah Hyde, Desmond King historically. I was just sitting in a meeting, we’ve got games (running)—we haven’t lost yet by the way—we always have games running in our building for our players to watch and we’re undefeated in those games. It’s really good. But, I just saw Andy Brodell basically won the Iowa State game out here in ’08 with a punt return," Ferentz said.
Iowa has enjoyed some special playmakers in the return game, but it's also a credit to Ferentz and to the Hawkeyes for the importance they place upon their special teams units.
"So, we’ve been lucky that way, but I think part of it’s program emphasis and we continue to emphasize it. It is important to our program. It has been for 27 years. Hopefully, somebody takes the opportunity and runs with it... First things first, you’ve got to make good decisions back there. It’s kind of like being a quarterback. You can’t have somebody back there that isn’t reliable and dependable. That’s sudden death. Quick way to lose a game," Ferentz said.
Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Josh on X: @JoshOnHawks
This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Iowa football has leader in punt returns competition
Continue reading...
The Hawkeyes have boasted the Big Ten's best return man in five of the past eight seasons. Ihmir Smith-Marsette (2018), Charlie Jones (2021), Cooper DeJean (2023) and Kaden Wetjen (2024, 2025) have dominated the Rodgers-Dwight Big Ten Return Specialist of the Year award.
Wetjen won the Jet Award, which is awarded to the nation's top return man, each of the past two seasons. But, with Wetjen off to the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Iowa has big shoes to fill.
On Friday, Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz revealed the current leader in the clubhouse for punt return duties.
"If we were playing tomorrow, which we’re not, you’ll see (Zach) Lutmer back there. He’d be the first guy... Zach’s sitting in the first seat right now, but it could be anybody’s. We’ll see how it all plays out," Ferentz said.
Ferentz said that Iowa has been blessed with DeJean and Wetjen in succession.
"That’s a great illustration of what I think everybody needs to understand. (Kaden) Wetjen was off the charts good. Just off the charts. Not so much three years ago, but the last two years just an exceptional player and he followed a guy who’s also off the charts good, Cooper DeJean. One of the reasons Cooper’s not one of the best returner guys we’ve had is because Wetjen followed him. We’ve been really lucky," Ferentz said.
Ferentz also noted how Iowa has historically enjoyed great play in the returns department during his time at the helm in Iowa City. And he delivered that message in vintage Ferentz fashion.
"Guys like Micah Hyde, Desmond King historically. I was just sitting in a meeting, we’ve got games (running)—we haven’t lost yet by the way—we always have games running in our building for our players to watch and we’re undefeated in those games. It’s really good. But, I just saw Andy Brodell basically won the Iowa State game out here in ’08 with a punt return," Ferentz said.
Iowa has enjoyed some special playmakers in the return game, but it's also a credit to Ferentz and to the Hawkeyes for the importance they place upon their special teams units.
"So, we’ve been lucky that way, but I think part of it’s program emphasis and we continue to emphasize it. It is important to our program. It has been for 27 years. Hopefully, somebody takes the opportunity and runs with it... First things first, you’ve got to make good decisions back there. It’s kind of like being a quarterback. You can’t have somebody back there that isn’t reliable and dependable. That’s sudden death. Quick way to lose a game," Ferentz said.
Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Josh on X: @JoshOnHawks
This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Iowa football has leader in punt returns competition
Continue reading...
