Iowa speedster Kaden Wetjen took a different route to get a football scholarship at an FBS school.
Wetjen is originally a Williamsburg, Iowa native, and was a star for Williamsburg High School. He was a Swiss Army knife for the Raiders, earning three all-state and all-conference honors at three different positions.
He was named an all-state and all-conference selection during his sophomore year as a defensive back. During his junior year, he earned the same honors, but as a receiver. Finally, during his senior year, he earned the same honors again, but as a running back.
Despite his success in high school, Wetjen was lightly recruited and did not receive any offers from power programs.
He decided to go the junior college (JUCO) route to attempt to earn a scholarship with a bigger program down the road.
In one season for Iowa Western Community College, Wetjen helped them reach the National Junior College Athletic Association National Championship game. He tallied 952 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns, including 304 receiving yards.
After his lone season with Iowa Western, Wetjen was offered two scholarships to bigger programs. Those schools were the University of Iowa and UMass.
Kaden Wetjen had two Division I offers coming out of Iowa Western: @HawkeyeFootball...and UMass.
— Mitch Fick (@MCFick) September 9, 2025
Iowa's next opponent offered him first. pic.twitter.com/aM01oHBlVN
Iowa's News Now anchor Mitch Fick asked Wetjen about the offers, and Wetjen stated it was a "full-circle" moment for him.
Wetjen also noted he was pretty excited when he saw UMass on the Iowa schedule because those were the only two teams that gave him a chance to play with a bigger program.
Even though UMass offered him first, Wetjen made the right choice, accepting Iowa's offer, and has been a dynamic special teams performer since he stepped on campus.