Dane Belton declares for NFL Draft, forgoes senior season at Iowa

Belton opts for NFL Draft after finishing 2021 season tied for fourth in FBS with five interceptions

Jan. 8, 2022 1:38 pm, Updated: Jan. 8, 2022 8:05 pm

Iowa Hawkeyes defensive back Dane Belton (4) intercepts a pass intended for Northwestern Wildcats wide receiver Stephon Robinson Jr. (5) in the second quarter at an Iowa Hawkeyes football game with the Northwestern Wildcats at Ryan Field in Evanston, Ill. on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

IOWA CITY — Iowa defensive back/linebacker Dane Belton will forgo his senior season and declare for the 2022 NFL Draft, he announced in a tweet Saturday.

Belton, the highest-profile Iowa player to declare for the draft so far this year, had a team-high five interceptions in 2021. Only three players at the FBS level finished the season with more picks than Belton.

The junior from Tampa, Fla., started in all 14 games this season after coming into the season with 15 starts in his first two years.

He also received first-team all-Big Ten recognition from both coaches and media.

Belton, who played in Iowa’s cash position, was part of a secondary that recorded an FBS-high 25 interceptions. The position group will see some newer faces with Belton, safety Jack Koerner and cornerback Matt Hankins leaving.

Incoming five-star recruit Xavier Nwankpa, freshman Cooper DeJean and sophomore Sebastian Castro are among candidates to step into a larger role in the 2022 secondary.