Two Iowa Football All-Time Greats That Are Truly ‘Special’

Perhaps nowhere else in college football are special teams as important as they are at the University of Iowa. I mean, this was the fan base that several years ago wore t-shirts that said 'Punting is Winning'. Many fans won't notice special teams plays unless they go horribly wrong. But Saturday's win against Michigan State wouldn't have happened without two Iowa all-time greats on special teams.

Iowa Kicker Drew Stevens Nails Game-Winning Field Goal

All Drew Stevens does is hit game-winning field goals. Hawk Central reports that Saturday's kick to beat the Spartans was his fourth game-ender of his Iowa career. He has one in each year of his Iowa career. Minnesota in 2022, Northwestern in 2023, Nebraska in 2024, and now Michigan State in 2025. After the game, Stevens stated, "It’s just special. I don’t have a lot to say. I’m kind of speechless."

Kaden Wetjen's Record-Breaking Day at Kinnick

When you think of special teams, I'm not sure how much more 'special' an Iowa career can be than that of Williamsburg native Kaden Wetjen. The Jet Award-winning return man got the Hawkeyes on the board with an electrifying punt return for a touchdown.

It was a record-breaking return. Hawk Central reports that Wetjen passed Iowa legend Tim Dwight for the most combined return touchdowns in Hawkeye history with six. Not bad for a player who began his career at Iowa Western Community College. But like so many Hawkeyes before him, Wetjen proved you can't recruit effort and you can' recruit heart.

And that is why we love Iowa football. Sure, sometimes our star players are recruits with a certain number of stars behind their names. But players like Drew Stevens and Kaden Wetjen are proof that the real legends at Iowa, players that fans will remember for decades, took a different path to the top.

LET'S GO HAWKS!