Kirk Ferentz quotes Albert Einstein after Iowa’s win over Nebraska
The Hawkeye head coach gained his 204th sport at Iowa with an inconceivable victory by which his offense gained 5 first downs.
IOWA CITY — The Huge Ten introduced its all-conference soccer groups and particular person awards on Tuesday.
Throughout a daily season of highs and lows, the Hawkeyes (8-4) had many robust particular person performers. That was mirrored in a number of Iowa gamers garnering honors on Monday.
Here’s a have a look at which Hawkeyes earned accolades.
Kaleb Johnson: Ameche-Dayne Operating Again of the 12 months
This doesn’t come as a lot of a shock.
Johnson led the Huge Ten in whole speeding yards, with 258 greater than his closest competitors. Johnson was so prolific on the bottom that he single-handedly outrushed six Huge Ten groups this season.
Johnson additionally completed the common season rating first in particular person speeding yards per sport, first in speeding touchdowns and tied for second in speeding yards per try.
It was a historic stretch of soccer for Johnson within the context of the Iowa program. He posted single-season program data in factors, whole touchdowns and speeding scores.
Johnson emerged as one of many nation’s finest operating backs along with his breakthrough season and was named a Doak Walker Award finalist. Johnson burst onto the scene as a real freshman however that did not carry over into final season, the place he had a turbulent marketing campaign.
Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz mentioned of Johnson following Iowa’s win over Nebraska: “Any ups and downs that we could have gone via, it has been price it as a result of it is simply so enjoyable to see him be assured and act like a soccer participant, an actual soccer participant.”
On Sunday, Johnson declared for the 2025 NFL Draft. However the recognition for his excellent season retains rolling in.
Jay Higgins: Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the 12 months
After breaking out as a star final season, Iowa linebacker Jay Higgins adopted it up with one other extremely productive yr.
Higgins impacted the sport in a wide range of methods defensively. He completed the common season ranked second in whole tackles within the Huge Ten. Higgins’ 4 interceptions had been tied for second. His two pressured fumbles had been tied for sixth within the league.
As nice as Higgins was final season, he didn’t win this award in 2023. It was Ohio State’s Tommy Eichenberg that took residence the glory. However Higgins wasn’t denied this season. He’s the primary Hawkeye to win it since Jack Campbell did it in 2022.
Higgins is an unbelievable success story. His solely energy convention supply out of highschool was Iowa. He waited his flip behind Campbell. Now he has develop into an all-time Hawkeye.
“There’s quite a lot of reducing and operating all over the place in life proper now,” Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz mentioned in late November of Higgins’ endurance. “As an alternative of pouting or, I’m not saying choke again, typically I name it second staff cocoon, the place it’s secure…
“(Gamers assume) ‘I actually don’t have to organize to my fullest as a result of I in all probability gained’t be in there anyway’… You don’t do it deliberately but it surely’s simply not the identical as understanding you need to go on the market and carry out and everyone’s relying on you. He by no means did that. Jay, it doesn’t matter what he did, he was simply attempting to get higher. Performed tremendously on particular groups and took a management position that manner. It’s simply who he’s.”
Kaden Wetjen: Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the 12 months
For the second consecutive yr, an Iowa Hawkeye brings residence this award.
Final season, it was star Cooper DeJean. This season, it’s Kaden Wetjen.
Wetjen led the Huge Ten in kick return yards and punt return yards. He additionally delivered an 85-yard punt return landing in opposition to Northwestern.
Wetjen’s numbers had been notable on the nationwide scale, as properly. On the finish of the common season, he amassed 888 return yards mixed between kickoffs and punts, which ranked first within the FBS.
A standout at Williamsburg, Wetjen was frivolously recruited out of highschool and didn’t have any FBS scholarship presents. He went the junior-college route, taking his abilities to Iowa Western.
His time at Iowa Western attracted some recruiting consideration but it surely nonetheless was comparatively restricted. Iowa, who had talked to him about strolling on in highschool, got here round once more.
Wetjen selected a most well-liked walk-on alternative at Iowa over scholarship presents elsewhere, essentially the most distinguished of which was FBS-level UMass.
After working his manner up the ladder with the Hawkeyes, Wetjen grew to become a critical weapon on particular groups in 2024.
For the reason that Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the 12 months was first given out in 2015, 4 Hawkeyes have gained it, additional exemplifying Iowa’s particular groups prowess (2018, Ihmir Smith-Marsette; 2021, Charlie Jones; 2023, Cooper DeJean; 2024, Kaden Wetjen)
All-Huge Ten offense
- Operating again Kaleb Johnson (first staff by media and coaches)
- Offensive lineman Connor Colby (first staff by media and coaches)
- Offensive lineman Logan Jones (first staff by media, second staff by coaches)
- Offensive lineman Gennings Dunker (second staff by coaches, third staff by media)
- Offensive lineman Beau Stephens (honorable point out by coaches and media)
- Offensive lineman Mason Richman (honorable point out by coaches and media)
- Tight finish Luke Lachey (honorable point out by media)
All-Huge Ten protection
- Linebacker Jay Higgins (first staff by coaches and media)
- Defensive again Jermari Harris (third staff by coaches and media)
- Defensive again Sebastian Castro (third staff by coaches and media)
- Defensive lineman Aaron Graves (honorable point out by coaches and media)
- Defensive lineman Ethan Hurkett (honorable point out by coaches and media)
- Linebacker Nick Jackson (honorable point out by coaches and media)
- Defensive again Quinn Schulte (honorable point out by coaches and media)
- Defensive lineman Yahya Black (honorable point out by coaches and media)
- Defensive lineman Deontae Craig (honorable point out by media)
All-Huge Ten particular groups
- Kaden Wetjen (first staff return specialist by media and coaches)
- Drew Stevens (third staff kicker by media and coaches)
- Lengthy snapper Luke Elkin (second staff by media, honorable point out by coaches)
- Punter Rhys Dakin (second staff by media, third staff by coaches)
Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact by way of e-mail at [email protected]
