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2025 BIG TEN RODGERS-DWIGHT RETURN SPECIALIST OF THE YEAR: Kaden Wetjen, Iowa,...Wetjen, who is a Jet Award finalist, leads the nation with 965 combined kick return yards (by 260 yards), while also ranking first in punt return yards (28.3). The native of Williamsburg, Iowa, native was a three-time Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week in 2025. He is the only Big Ten player to record at least three punt returns and one kickoff return for a score in the same season. Wetjen returned a 100-yard kickoff for a touchdown at Rutgers, and had punt return scores of 95 yards (UMass), 62 yards (Michigan State) and 50 yards (Minnesota) this season. His 28.3 punt return average is currently tops in Big Ten history and the three punt return scores are tied for third-most in a single season in league annals. - Iowa Football

(DS#17 WR) rSr/2026

WR Kaden Wetjen, Iowa
News Source: Iowa Football
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11/28/25 - Mark Gronowski, rSr/2026, Iowa, 6-2, 235 (DS#17 QB) + More +

Mark Gronowski rushed for two touchdowns and passed for a third, Kamari Moulton ran for 93 yards and two scores, and Iowa spoiled Nebraska running back Emmett Johnson's career game with a 40-16 victory Friday. The Hawkeyes (8-4, 6-3 Big Ten) broke open what was a one-point game late in the second quarter with three touchdowns and a safety and they shut out the Cornhuskers in the second half. They took home the Heroes Trophy after their 10th win in 11 meetings with their border rival. Johnson had 177 of his career-high 217 yards for Nebraska (7-5, 4-5) in the first half, and he matched his career high with 29 carries. It was Johnson's eighth 100-yard game of the season and fifth straight. He broke a career-long 70-yard run on the Huskers' first possession. Johnson, who averaged 9.3 yards per carry in the first half, was limited to 40 yards on 10 carries in the second.

The temperature was 26 degrees at kickoff, and intermittent light snow fell in the first half. Iowa started taking control when Gronowski scored from the 1 in the final minute of the half. The Hawkeyes recorded a safety early in the third quarter when Jacory Barney muffed a punt and the Huskers' Jamir Conn recovered it in the end zone. TD runs of 6 yards by Gronowski and 1 yard by Moulton made it a 34-point game and sent many of the fans home early in the fourth quarter. Gronowski was 9 of 16 for 166 yards and he carried 13 times for 64. Nebraska freshman TJ Lateef, making his third start in place of the injured Dylan Raiola and first at Memorial Stadium, played most of the game with a tight hamstring and was just 9 of 24 for 69 yards. - Iowa/AP College Football

(DS#17 QB) rSr/2026

QB Mark Gronowski, Iowa
News Source: Iowa/AP College Football
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11/24/25 - Kaden Wetjen, rSr/2026, Iowa, 5-09, 196 (DS#17 WR) + More +

WEEK 13 BIG TEN SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Kaden Wetjen, Iowa, KR/WR - Gr. - Williamsburg, Iowa - Williamsburg,...Recorded a 62-yard punt return for a touchdown in Iowa's 20-17 win against Michigan State, his third punt return touchdown this season...His three punt return touchdowns are tied for the third-most in Big Ten history and it is his sixth career return touchdown, the most in Iowa history...Finished the game with 165 combined return yards, his sixth career game with 100+ yards, including a 40-yard return to set up Iowa's game-tying touchdown...Wetjen is the first player in Big Ten history with three punt return touchdowns and a kick return touchdown in a single season...Last Iowa Special Teams Player of the Week honoree: Kaden Wetjen (Sept. 15, 2025). - Big Ten Football

(DS#17 WR) rSr/2026

WR Kaden Wetjen, Iowa
News Source: Big Ten Football
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11/22/25 - Drew Stevens, Sr/2026, Iowa, 6-0, 205 (DS#4 K) + More +

Drew Stevens kicked a 44-yard field goal as time expired to give Iowa a 20-17 win over Michigan State on Saturday. The kick capped a 13-point fourth-quarter comeback for the Hawkeyes (7-4, 5-3 Big Ten), who snapped a two-game losing streak. The win brought some emotions from Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz after the game. Stevens, a senior playing his final home game, said after the game he had been thinking about his senior day in high school. Stevens had missed a 53-yard field goal at the end of the first half, but Ferentz knew what he had in his kicker at the end of the game.

Iowa trailed 17-7 after Michigan State quarterback Alessio Milivojevic threw two third-quarter touchdown passes to Chrishon McCray. But the Hawkeyes held the Spartans (3-8, 0-8) to just 26 yards on four possessions in the fourth quarter, sending Michigan State to its eighth consecutive loss and extending the Spartans' Big Ten losing streak to nine games. The Hawkeyes got to within 17-10 on Stevens' 26-yard field goal with 11:27 left in the fourth quarter, then tied the game when Gronowski threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Jacob Gill with 1:29 to play. That drive was set up by a 40-yard punt return by Kaden Wetjen, who had returned a punt 62 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter for Iowa's first score and becoming the program's all-time leader in returns for touchdowns. Iowa got the ball back on its own 21-yard line and drove 53 yards in five plays, setting up Stevens for his game winner. - AP College Football

(DS#4 K) Sr/2026

K Drew Stevens, Iowa
News Source: AP College Football
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10/25/25 - Mark Gronowski, rSr/2026, Iowa, 6-2, 235 (DS#17 QB) + More +

Mark Gronowski ran for a touchdown and threw for another as Iowa defeated Minnesota 41-3 on Saturday. It was the third consecutive win for the Hawkeyes (6-2, 4-1 Big Ten), who became bowl eligible. Iowa had rushing, passing, defensive and special teams touchdowns in the first half, building a 31-0 halftime lead. "We really wanted to get after them," Gronowski said. "That's just great complementary football." Said Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz: "All three phases really did a great job, especially in that first half, playing off each other and doing a great job," Gronowski had a 2-yard touchdown run on the opening possession of the game; his 11th of the season. Drew Stevens had a 34-yard field goal to increase Iowa's lead to 10-0, then Zach Lutmer returned an interception 34 yards for a touchdown to give the Hawkeyes a 17-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Gronowski, who threw for 135 yards, threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Reece Vander Zee early in the second quarter, then Kaden Wetjen scored on a 50-yard punt return two minutes later. "We were getting the ball to our playmakers," Gronowski said. "I really liked the rhythm we had in the first half." "Defense, offense, special teams - everybody was moving today," Wetjen said. It was the first time since the 2019 Holiday Bowl - a 49-24 win over USC - that Iowa had touchdowns in all three phases of the game. "The same outcome is pretty good," a smiling Ferentz said. Stevens' 46-yard field goal in the third quarter gave Iowa a 34-0 lead. Iowa backup quarterback Jeremy Hecklinski had a 6-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to close the scoring. Minnesota (5-3, 3-2), which came in having won three of its last four games, had just 133 yards against the Hawkeyes, who rank eighth nationally in total defense. The Gophers' only points came on a 34-yard field goal from Brady Denaburg in the third quarter. Minnesota redshirt freshman quarterback Drake Lindsey threw three interceptions. Those turnovers, along with the punt return by Wetjen, bothered Gophers coach PJ Fleck. - Iowa/AP College Football

(DS#17 QB) rSr/2026

QB Mark Gronowski, Iowa
News Source: Iowa/AP College Football
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10/21/25 - Xavier Nwankpa, Sr/2026, Iowa, 6-2, 213 (DS#17 SS) + More +

WEEK 8 BIG TEN DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Xavier Nwankpa, Iowa, DB – Sr. – Pleasant Hill, Iowa – Southeast Polk,...Recorded 10 tackles (seven solo) with an interception and a forced fumble to help the Hawkeyes defeat Penn State...Had an interception in the second quarter and returned it 28 yards to the 1, marking his first pick since the 2023 season and the third of his career...With 1:20 on the game clock, Nwankpa came on a delayed blitz, flushing the quarterback from the pocket toward other Hawkeye defenders, forcing an incomplete pass to secure the victory...Last Iowa Defensive Player of the Week honoree: Aaron Graves (Oct. 14, 2024). - Big Ten Football

(DS#17 SS) Sr/2026

SS Xavier Nwankpa, Iowa
News Source: Big Ten Football
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10/19/25 - Mark Gronowski, rSr/2026, Iowa, 6-2, 235 (DS#17 QB) + More +

Iowa quarterback Mark Gronowski rushed for a career-high 130 yards and two touchdowns, and Kaden Wetjen scored the go-ahead touchdown on an 8-yard run with 3:54 to play, as the Hawkeyes defeated Penn State 25-24 on Saturday night. The Hawkeyes (5-2, 3-1 Big Ten) trailed 24-19 with 4:56 to play after Penn State's Ryan Barker kicked a 32-yard field goal, but Gronowski ran 67 yards on the first play after the ensuing kickoff, setting up Wetjen's run one play later. Gronowski missed on the two-point conversion pass, giving the Nittany Lions a chance to take the lead. Iowa's defense then stopped Penn State near midfield, blitzing Ethan Grunkemeyer on fourth down at the Penn State 49 and forcing an incomplete pass.

Gronowski then clinched the win with a 14-yard run on third down that allowed the Hawkeyes to run out the clock. Gronowski had a 1-yard touchdown run late in the first half, then added a 4-yard touchdown run in the third quarter that got the Hawkeyes to within 21-16. It was the fourth consecutive loss for the Nittany Lions (3-4, 0-4), playing their first game for interim coach Terry Smith six days after the firing of James Franklin. Kaytron Allen rushed for 145 yards and two touchdowns for Penn State. The Nittany Lions led 14-10 at halftime after Iowa kicker Drew Stevens had his 66-yard field-goal attempt with six seconds left blocked by Xavier Gilliam. Elliot Washington II picked up the loose ball and ran 35 yards for the touchdown. - Iowa/AP College Football

(DS#17 QB) rSr/2026

QB Mark Gronowski, Iowa
News Source: Iowa/AP College Football
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10/11/25 - Mark Gronowski, rSr/2026, Iowa, 6-2, 235 (DS#17 QB) + More +

Xavier Williams rushed for two touchdowns and Mark Gronowski ran for another to help Iowa clobber Wisconsin 37-0 on Saturday night. Kamari Moulton added 96 yards rushing on 15 carries and a touchdown for the Hawkeyes (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten), who retained possession of the Heartland Trophy and have won four straight against Wisconsin (2-4, 0-3). The Hawkeyes rushed for a season-high 210 yards on 36 carries. Iowa recorded 17 first-half points off three Badgers turnovers as Wisconsin dropped to 15-17 in Luke Fickell's coaching tenure. Williams had a 29-yard touchdown run to push Iowa's lead to 30-0 with 10:30 left in the third quarter. He added a 19-yard run in the fourth and finished with 55 yards rushing on seven carries.

Gronowski, who transferred from South Dakota State after winning two FCS national championships, was a game-time decision. He injured his knee on a fourth-quarter run in Iowa's 20-15 loss to then-No. 11 Indiana on Sept. 25. He was 17-of-24 passing for 107 yards with one interception and had a 1-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter. Drew Stevens kicked field goals of 49, 32 and 25 yards for the Hawkeyes. Hunter Simmons, in his second start at quarterback for Wisconsin, went 8 of 21 for 82 yards passing with two interceptions and a fumble. Wisconsin leads the series 49-48-2. - Iowa/AP College Football

(DS#17 QB) rSr/2026

QB Mark Gronowski, Iowa
News Source: Iowa/AP College Football
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09/27/25 - Mark Gronowski, rSr/2026, Iowa, 6-2, 235 (DS#17 QB) + More +

Gronowski left the game in the fourth quarter with an apparent lower leg injury. Gronowski, who transferred to Iowa after winning two FCS national championships at South Dakota State, was injured on a fourth-quarter run after completing 19 of 25 passes for 144 yards. He was replaced by Hank Brown, who was 5 of 13 for 48 yards. - AP College Football

(DS#17 QB) rSr/2026

QB Mark Gronowski, Iowa
News Source: AP College Football
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09/22/25 - Kaden Wetjen, rSr/2026, Iowa, 5-09, 196 (DS#17 WR) + More +

WEEK 4 BIG TEN CO-SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Kaden Wetjen, Iowa, WR - Gr. - Williamsburg, Iowa - Williamsburg,...Tied an Iowa record with a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown on the game's opening kickoff in the 38-28 road win at Rutgers...It is the sixth 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in school history and the second of Wetjen's career, making him the second Hawkeye to return an opening kickoff for a touchdown (C.J. Jones vs. USC in the 2003 Orange Bowl)...He is now tied for the most career kickoff returns for a touchdown in school history (2) and his four career combined return touchdowns (two punt, two kickoff) are tied for the second-most all-time...Marked his second straight and fifth career game with 100+ return yards...Last Iowa Special Teams Players of the Week: Kaden Wetjen (Sept. 15, 2025). - Big Ten Football

(DS#17 WR) rSr/2026

WR Kaden Wetjen, Iowa
News Source: Big Ten Football
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09/20/25 - Mark Gronowski, rSr/2026, Iowa, 6-2, 235 (DS#17 QB) + More +

Mark Gronowski ran for three touchdowns and passed for 186 yards to lead Iowa to a 38-28 win over Rutgers in the Big Ten season-opener for both teams on Friday. Gronowski scored two fourth quarter TDs for Iowa (3-1), erasing a 28-24 Rutgers lead. Athan Kaliakmanis passed for 330 yards and ran for two TDs for the Scarlet Knights (3-1). The offense has finally come around. The Hawkeyes pounded out 346 total yards with a balanced attack (186 passing, 160 rushing). They entered the game ranked 103d in total offense in the FBS. Jaxon Rexroth intercepted a Kaliakmanis pass with 5:39 to play that set up Iowa's second TD of the fourth quarter. Defensive end Max Llewellyn hurried Kaliakmanis into throwing his first interception of the season. - Iowa/AP College Football

(DS#17 QB) rSr/2026

QB Mark Gronowski, Iowa
News Source: Iowa/AP College Football
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09/15/25 - Kaden Wetjen, rSr/2026, Iowa, 5-09, 196 (DS#17 WR) + More +

WEEK 3 BIG TEN SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Kaden Wetjen, Iowa, WR - Gr. - Williamsburg, Iowa - Williamsburg,...Recorded a 95-yard punt return for a touchdown in the third quarter in Iowa's 47-7 win over UMass...The return ties a Big Ten and Iowa record (Michigan State's Al Brenner at Illinois, 1966 and Iowa's...Bill Happel vs. Minnesota, 1984) and is the longest punt return in Kinnick Stadium history, besting Bob Longley (94 vs. Oregon in 1949)...Wetjen finished the with a career-high 216 return yards (182 punt and 34 kickoff) and a career-high 236 all-purpose yards...Last Iowa Special Teams Players of the Week: Drew Stevens (Dec. 2, 2024). - Big Ten Football

(DS#17 WR) rSr/2026

WR Kaden Wetjen, Iowa
News Source: Big Ten Football
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09/13/25 - Mark Gronowski, rSr/2026, Iowa, 6-2, 235 (DS#17 QB) + More +

Mark Gronowski threw for two touchdowns and ran for another, and Kaden Wetjen scored two touchdowns as Iowa defeated Massachusetts 47-7 on Saturday night, making Kirk Ferentz the Big Ten's winningest coach. It was the 206th win for Ferentz, who surpassed Ohio State's Woody Hayes. Gronowski, who transferred from South Dakota State after last season, completed touchdown passes of 20 and 3 yards to Seth Anderson on Iowa's first two possessions of the game. He added a 13-yard touchdown run with 26 seconds left in the first half to give the Hawkeyes (2-1) a 30-7 halftime lead.

Gronowski, who entered ranked 130th in NCAA Division I in yards passing per game with 63.5, threw for 179 yards, completing 16 of 24 passes. Wetjen scored on a 20-yard end-around in the first quarter, then tied a program record with a 95-yard punt return for a touchdown early in the third quarter. Drew Stevens had field goals of 54 and 27 yards for the Hawkeyes. Backup quarterback Hank Brown threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to KJ Parker in the fourth quarter. Iowa held the Minutemen (0-3) to just 119 yards. Massachusetts had zero yards rushing on 16 carries in the first half. - Iowa/AP College Football

(DS#17 QB) rSr/2026

QB Mark Gronowski, Iowa
News Source: Iowa/AP College Football
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08/30/25 - Xavier Williams, rFr/2029, Iowa, 5-10, 225 (DS#13 RB) + More +

Xavier Williams rushed for 122 yards and a touchdown, and Kirk Ferentz moved into a tie as the Big Ten's all-time winningest coach as Iowa defeated Albany 34-7 on Saturday night. Ferentz, in his 27th season as coach of the Hawkeyes, won his 205th game with the program, tying Ohio State's Woody Hayes on the conference's all-time list. Quarterback Mark Gronowski, making his first start with the Hawkeyes after transferring from South Dakota State, threw for just 44 yards, but threw for a touchdown and ran for another before leaving the game with apparent cramping issues in the third quarter.

Williams took over for injured starter Kamari Moulton in the first half. Albany took a 7-3 lead in the second quarter when Jack Shields threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Lasalle Rose Jr. But the Hawkeyes quickly responded, driving 65 yards on seven plays on their next possession, finishing the drive with Williams' 3-yard touchdown run. Gronowski threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Kaden Wetjen on Iowa's next drive to put the Hawkeyes up 17-7 at halftime. Gronowski had a 1-yard touchdown run in the third to give the Hawkeyes a 24-7 lead. Drew Stevens had a career-long 55-yard field goal in the fourth, then backup quarterback Hank Brown scored on a 1-yard run for the final margin. - Iowa/AP College Football

(DS#13 RB) rFr/2029

RB Xavier Williams, Iowa
News Source: Iowa/AP College Football
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12/27/23 - Sebastian Castro, rSr/2025, Iowa, 5-11, 203 (DS#8 SS) + More +

2023 ALL-BIG TEN HONORABLE MENTION: Sebastian Castro,...Castro has been a menace in the CASH position, amassing 61 tackles, nine tackles for loss, one sack and a team-best three interceptions. The Illinois native had a 30-yard pick six in Iowa's road win at Iowa State and he had the game-sealing interception in the road win at Wisconsin. - Iowa Football

(DS#8 SS) rSr/2025

SS Sebastian Castro, Iowa
News Source: Iowa Football
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