Iowa football's Kaden Wetjen accepts East-West Shrine Bowl invite

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Joining fellow Hawkeye teammate Max Llewellyn, No. 23 Iowa football (8-4, 6-3 Big Ten) All-American special teams star Kaden Wetjen has formally accepted his invite to the 2026 East-West Shrine Bowl. The annual event allows some of the nation’s top college football players a chance to showcase their talents in front of a collection of NFL scouts, coaches, and executives from all 32 teams.

Wetjen, a former walk-on who took the JUCO path, has amassed 1,489 kick return yards, 929 punt return yards, and six total return touchdowns with one more game remaining as an Hawkeye, which will come on Dec. 31 against No. 14 Vanderbilt (10-2, 6-2 SEC) in the ReliaQuest Bowl from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

This season, Wetjen has amassed several impressive feats, including becoming the first Hawkeye to score a rushing, receiving, punt return, and kickoff return touchdown in a career. Wetjen’s 62-yard punt return touchdown against Michigan State cemented his name in Iowa immortality by passing Tim Dwight for the most in Hawkeye history (6).

In a fascinating stat, Kaden Wetjen’s special-teams score marks the third straight game in which Iowa has had a punt-return touchdown in Kinnick Stadium against Michigan State, joining Charlie Jones (2020) and Cooper DeJean (2023).

As of the morning of Dec. 29, at least 70 have accepted invitations to the East-West Shrine Bowl. Wetjen and the aforementioned Llewellyn will join 10 other players from the Big Ten.

The 101st East-West Shrine Bowl kicks off at 6 p.m. CT on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, at Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas.

Fans interested in attending the event can purchase tickets from the East-West Shrine Bowl.

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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Iowa football’s Kaden Wetjen accepts East-West Shrine Bowl invite

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