By Pat Harty

IOWA CITY, Iowa– Until just recently, Cooper DeJean never had watched video of Tim Dwight returning a punt as an Iowa Hawkeye.

That seemed surprising at first, but then on second thought, DeJean was born in 2003 and almost six years after Dwight last played for the Hawkeyes.

“It was really cool to see just how fast he was and what he did with the ball in his hands,” DeJean said of Dwight, who returned five punts for touchdowns as a Hawkeye from 1994 to 1997.

DeJean, of course, knew about Tim Dwight prior to watching him on tape for the first time, but to actually see Dwight returning punts made DeJean appreciate Dwight’s greatness even more.

“His speed was incredible” DeJean said.

Dwight is believed to be the only player to ever return a punt for a touchdown against Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State, and he was a consensus All-America return specialist as a senior in 1997 and finished seventh in the voting for the Heisman Trophy that season.

DeJean is now making a name for himself as a punt returner as he showed last Saturday by returning a punt 70 yards for a touchdown in Iowa’s 26-16 victory over Michigan State.

His touchdown, which came late in the fourth quarter, proved to be the difference in the game.

It also drew praise from Dwight.

“Big-time play by a big-time player,” Dwight said Thursday via a text message. “He did a great job of stretching the field and creating a lane, and then making the cut to get to the outside, then the afterburners.”

DeJean’s ability to return punts will pose a serious threat against Purdue when the teams meet on Saturday at Kinnick Stadium.

Dwight was always a threat to score on a punt return and that made him a valuable weapon, in addition to being a productive receiver.

DeJean spends most of his time playing cornerback, and he is considered one of the best at that position in the country.

DeJean is also listed at 6-foot-1 and 207 pounds, while Dwight barely stood 5-9 and weighed about 190 pounds.

“He has the strength to break a tackle,” Dwight said.

DeJean said Tuesday that he hadn’t watched enough tape of Dwight to compare their styles as punt returners.

“I’d have to look into more of that to compare our return styles,” DeJean said.

Dwight was fearless as a returner, and he could reach top speed in a flash, and his top speed as a former star sprinter in track and field was almost always faster than everybody else’s top speed.

Dwight would see a crease and race through it with no hesitation.

DeJean, on the other hand, certainly has good speed or he wouldn’t be returning punts at this level.

But he isn’t as fast as Dwight was in his playing days.

What they both have in common, however, are the ball skills and vision that make a good punt returner.

There is so much that goes into returning a punt, starting with having to catch it.

“Especially when you have like ten guys running down at you when the ball is in the air,” DeJean said. “First, you have to make the right decision whether you want to fair catch it or return it. Then you have to find those little creases that you can get through. You’ve got to be able to read block that guys have set for you.”

DeJean’s first chance to watch Dwight on tape came when Iowa special teams coordinator LeVar Woods showed his players some old video.

Woods played for Iowa from 1998 to 2001, so he is very familiar with Dwight’s exploits.

And now so is DeJean, who is eager to watch more of Dwight on tape.

“I’ll go back and watch him tonight,” DeJean said Tuesday.

Purdue vs. Iowa

When: Saturday, 2:33 p.m.

Where: Kinnick Stadium

TV/stream: Peacock

Radio: Hawkeye Radio Network

Series record: Purdue leads, 50-40-3

In Iowa City: Iowa leads, 22-21-1

Last meeting: Iowa in 24-3 last season West Lafayette, Indiana