How Iowa Special Teams Stars Are Making History in 2026

Second-year running back Braeden Jackson has powered Iowa’s special teams by returning two kickoffs for touchdowns during the 2026 season, joining exclusive program history alongside a standout group of return specialists.

Who are the Iowa return specialists joining Jackson in program history?

Jackson is just the fifth player all-time in Iowa football history to return multiple kickoffs for touchdowns. He shares that distinction with Kaden Wetjen, Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, Ihmir Smith-Marsette, and Kahlil Hill.

Jackson and Smith-Marsette are the only two Hawkeyes to register multiple kickoff return touchdowns in a single season. Jackson opened with a 99-yard untouched return in Week 4 at Michigan, which ties for the seventh-longest in program history. He later added a 96-yard untouched return in Week 10 at Northwestern, marking the 13th-longest all-time.

Iowa has recorded a kick return for a touchdown in three consecutive seasons, totaling four kickoff return scores since 2024. The special teams unit has returned both a punt and a kickoff for a touchdown in three straight seasons. Jackson’s Ann Arbor return also marked the first kickoff return for a touchdown allowed by Michigan since 2019.

Nationally, Jackson was the first player in the Big Ten to record a kickoff return for a touchdown in 2026. He is one of four players nationally with multiple kickoff returns for a touchdown, and the only Power Conference player with multiple kickoff returns for a touchdown.

How did Evan James and Caden Buhr contribute to the special teams success?

Second-year wide receiver Evan James made an immediate splash in his Hawkeye debut during Week 1 against Northern Illinois, returning a punt 77 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter. That performance marked the 15th-longest punt return for a touchdown in Iowa history.

James finished that opening game with three punt returns for 108 yards, averaging 36 yards per return. The Florida native currently holds 22 returns for 273 yards, averaging 12.4 yards per return to rank 14th in the FBS and second in the Big Ten. He sits on the Jet Award Midseason List as one of 44 players nationally to return a punt for a touchdown this year.

Meanwhile, second-year kicker Caden Buhr secured a clutch Week 2 victory over Iowa State by hitting a career-best three field goals. His 42-yard game-winner with just 15 seconds remaining gave the Hawkeyes a 16-13 Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series win, earning him Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week and Lou Groza Award Star of the Week honors on September 14 and 15.

Kicker / Punter	Key Metric	Notable Stat
Caden Buhr	Field Goal Percentage	.875 (14-of-16 this season)
Caden Buhr	Longest Field Goal	54 yards (Week 9)
Boston Everitt	Punting Average	43.4 yards on 39 punts

Buhr has made nine straight field goals dating back to Week 5 against Ohio State, including a career-long 54-yarder in Week 9 and a 52-yarder in Week 10 at Northwestern. He ranks 22nd nationally by averaging 1.56 field goals per game through his first nine contests.

What does the Aussie pipeline bring to the punting unit?

Second-year punter Boston Everitt is averaging 43.4 yards across 39 punts through his first nine games as a Hawkeye, ranking 42nd in the NCAA and sixth in the Big Ten. The Hope Island, Australia native continues Iowa’s Australian pipeline, following Tory Taylor and Rhys Dakin.

Everitt has successfully downed 22 punts inside the 20-yard line, which included four against Iowa State in Week 2. He also forced 14 fair catches and sent seven punts traveling 50 yards or further, highlighted by a career-long 60-yard boot during Week 8 at Minnesota.