Prater stays put (with Iowa statement)

One down, two to go.

Juniors Tyler Sash and Marvin McNutt still may forgo their senior seasons at the University of Iowa, but junior cornerback Shaun Prater is coming back.

Prater announced on his Twitter feed a little after 3 p.m. today that he intends to return to Iowa.

"Just finished discussing my future plans with my family & coaches and HAWK NATION I'm coming back for my senior year! Appreciate the support," Prater wrote in his tweet.

Iowa sports information released statements from Prater and coach Kirk Ferentz later in the afternoon.

“I sat down with my family, and with Coach Ferentz and my coaches. I weighed the pros and cons, and I am remaining at Iowa for my senior season," said Prater, who missed Iowa's '10 opener with a hamstring injury. "I look forward to playing a vital role in whatever capacity is necessary next season.”

Ferentz said, “I was very pleased to learn of Shaun Prater's decision to return to the team for his senior season. Shaun has played very good football for us the past few years and I expect him to continue growing both as a player and team leader next season.”

In two seasons as a starter for the Hawkeyes, Prater has six interceptions, 14 pass breakups and 109 tackles.

The 5-foot-11, 180-pounder was a first-team all-Big Ten pick this season on both the coaches and media ballots. Before the bowl season began, Prater led the conference with four interceptions and 80 return yards, including a 33-yard return for a score in a victory over Penn State.

As a sophomore, the Omaha, Neb., native tied for second in the Big Ten in pass breakups in league games (1.25) and was fourth in PBUs for all games (1.0) and tied for 34th nationally. He was suspended for the first two games of '09 after an OWI arrest that summer.

In '08, Prater was one seven true freshmen to see action.

Prater was one of three juniors to submit their names to the NFL draft advisory board in December, with Sash and McNutt joining him.

Sash, also an first-team all-Big Ten pick by coaches and media, has been active on Twitter, but hasn't announced his intentions. He will be 23 in May and that might be a mitigating factor.

McNutt has been silent. During the Insight Bowl, he declined to discuss the matter, but did say he submitted papers to the draft advisory board.

The deadline for underclassmen to declare for April's NFL draft is Saturday.

Last year, Iowa lost O-lineman Bryan Bulaga and defensive back Amari Spievey early to the NFL. Bulaga was a first-round pick and is starting right tackle for the Packers going into their NFC Divisional playoff at Atlanta this weekend. Spievey, a third-rounder, moved into a starting spot at safety midway through the season for the Detroit Lions.