How Iowa Football's Braeden Jackson Developed His Speed

Braeden Jackson is too humble to declare himself the fastest player on the 2026 Iowa football team. 

"We have some really fast guys, but you're going to have to ask my teammates about that," Jackson said at media availability on Tuesday. 

But here's the truth: Jackson is the Hawkeyes' fastest player. 

The second-year is putting together a strong campaign at his skill position (running back), but Jackson's calling card in 2026 has been his work in the return game. The Hawkeyes had so many questions at that spot after back-to-back Jet Award winner (the nation's best return specialist) Kaden Wetjen graduated, but new special teams coordinator Chris Polizzi listed some options in the spring. 

The names Polizzi included were some of the most well-known names on this Iowa team – defensive backs Zach Lutmer and Jaylen Watson, running back Brevin Doll, and wide receiver Reece Vander Zee. Hawkeye fans (and even some media members) pegged Lutmer, who boasted every attribute a returner could want, as the likely favorite to take over for Wetjen, but Lutmer got banged up with injuries, so Iowa had to turn to someone else to take charge. 

The answer came from a surprising source – Jackson. Few people outside of the Hansen Football Performance Center had heard of the walk-on from Ankeny, but he was prepared for the moment thanks to a rigorous offseason practice regime of drills and developing what Jackson called the "point of attack – where the Hawkeyes intentionally try to stretch the defense to allow their returner to take advantage of a potential open seam. 

It's safe to say Jackson has done that pretty well in 2026. The second-year has tallied two kick return touchdowns this year, including a 96-yard kick return score to punctuate a victory over Northwestern last Saturday.

Once the Wildcats gave Jackson an ounce of room, he was gone. It's one thing to break open a big return when the defense busts the kick coverage, but Jackson is breaking out this season because of the aforementioned speed. 

Every Hawkeye fan has seen Jackson flash the wheels, but where does his speed come from? It certainly helps that his father, Fred, a 10-year NFL running back, was a standout player (many people often say the two have similar rushing styles) but Jackson says his speed originated in elementary school. 

Whether it was racing around the school or backyard football games at recess, everything was a competition to see who was the fastest kid in the class. Jackson would always be at the top of those battles despite a fierce challenge from a good friend named Jackson Reed. 

While Jackson does get plenty of feedback from Fred and does acknowledge that there is a little bit of pressure being the son of an NFL player, Fred isn't the only pro football star that Jackson has admired.

Jackson never had a favorite team growing up because he simply followed certain players, but if there was a former player that influenced his return style over the years, he says it's probably Chicago Bears legend and 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Devin Hester. 

"He was just a dog. I just remember seeing him having kickoff returns left and right," Jackson said. 

But most of all, Wetjen's influence has played a primary role in Jackson's emergence. Watching Wetjen break NCAA and Big Ten records from the sidelines last year was a natural way for Jackson to learn the ropes of being a successful returner, but Jackson's takeaway from practicing and watching Wetjen was his aggressiveness. 

Any time Wetjen had an opportunity to make a play in 2025, he made it, and that determination definitely rubbed off on Jackson. 

"You have to be a little crazy to be a returner," Jackson said. "But just have no fear and just go out there and make plays for the team." 

Jackson has done just that in 2026. Besides the two kick return touchdowns, he has also tallied 193 rushing yards on 25 carries, including a pair of scores.

It feels like his sophomore campaign in Iowa City can't get much better, but there's one thing missing for Jackson – a kick return touchdown at Kinnick Stadium.

He'll have a chance to do that on Saturday when Iowa hosts Purdue, and you better believe he's hoping to make a house call for the Hawkeye faithful. 

"That'd be that'd be really good to get the crowd into it," Jackson said. "And I'm hoping that there's more opportunities to come and I'll make sure we get one for the fans."