Iowa football dissects next return specialist candidates

For the past two seasons, Kirk Ferentz and the Iowa football team haven't had to think much about the return specialist position.

Kaden Wetjen took the college football world by storm, turning into the best returnman in the country. He won the Jet Award in back-to-back seasons and provided consistent production and big plays to the Hawkeye special teams unit. With Wetjen now off to the NFL, Iowa now needs to find someone to take over that position.

New special teams coordinator Chris Polizzi spoke with the media last week for one of the first times since getting the role. One of the marquee questions he was asked was about the hole at returner, and who some of the names are that are competing to fill it. Here's what Polizzi had to say.

"Zach Lutmer is the first one whose actually kind of had the ball in his hands more often than some otherguys, so there's a comfortability there," Polizzi said.

"Some other guys, KJ Parker has been back there getting some work... Jaylen Watson is a guy that has really worked to become a better punt and kickoff return guy. Brevin Doll is another guy who works diligently on the Jugs machine to try to work through that, and even Reece Vander Zee working his way to being a guy that you just trust with the football."

Polizzi mentioned a horde of who are working to win the starting return specialist role. Lutmer was a playmaker on defense last season and showed some real skills with the ball in his hands. He could follow 's path and be a star defensive back who also returns punts.