The Pittsburgh Steelers had a polarizing 2026 NFL Draft, taking sure gamers and positions sooner than anticipated. The purpose of at this time’s article is to contextualize how uncommon Wetjen’s return outcomes have been in 2025, and maybe assist a majority of the fanbase breathe simpler about choosing him within the fourth spherical.
For starters, he’s one in all solely eight gamers with at the least 15 kick and punt returns within the 2025 collegiate season per Sports activities Information Options (SIS). It’s fairly uncommon for faculty groups to ask gamers to do each.
Subsequent, I needed to supply a visible common yards on kick and punt returns, taking a look at simply the eight names that had 15 kick and punt returns:
Clearly, Wetjen was in a league of his personal as a returner final season. He far surpassed the remainder of the group that was requested to tug double responsibility on each kick and punt returns. Wetjen had 16 kick returns in 2025, for a 29.8 kick return common. The second-best amongst twin returners was 23.6. Wetjen averaged 26.8 per punt return, finest in all of school soccer. He beat the group above by a large margin as well, with simply an 11.8-yard common as second-best.
Wetjen’s contributions within the return recreation have been unparalleled. His punt return outcomes are much more spectacular contemplating his 36 makes an attempt, tied for the tenth most of all punt returners final season. So he constantly did harm as a punt returner, blowing his friends out of the water.
One other factor Pittsburgh’s return recreation has lacked is field-flipping performs, and naturally, scoring performs. Wetjen had the longest kick return (100) and punt return (95) in 2025, which is a uncommon worth. He additionally led school soccer with 4 complete return touchdowns (three punt returns, one kick return), and was the one one to have at the least one landing in every, per SIS.
Wetjen wasn’t only a good returner; he was far forward of the remainder and offered worth that no different participant got here near offering. Need extra pattern dimension proof? Utilizing the identical parameters as above (15 kick and punt returns) for 2024, Wetjen had three complete return TDs (two punt returns, one kick return), the one one with scores on every. He led this group in kick return common and longest return in every (100-yard kick return, 85-yard punt return).
So, Wetjen stacked two extremely spectacular consecutive seasons as a returner to finish his collegiate profession, with absurd and uncommon manufacturing. Not the standard returner you seize within the seventh spherical, as I’m positive many followers thought when listening to that place within the fourth spherical. Pittsburgh confirmed conviction, addressing an enormous want that would have an indeniable influence that the group has lacked for much too lengthy.
Right here’s to hoping it continues for the Iowa product, bringing extra of the identical on his subsequent Black and Gold endeavor with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
