Iowa cornerback Riley Moss to return in 2022, will not declare for NFL Draft

Reigning Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year to be back in black in 2022

Jan. 5, 2022 11:51 am, Updated: Jan. 5, 2022 3:27 pm

Iowa Hawkeyes defensive back Riley Moss (33) rushes for a touchdown in the first quarter at an Iowa Hawkeyes football game with the Indiana Hoosiers at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)

IOWA CITY — A key member of Iowa’s “Doughboyz” secondary will return for another season.

Cornerback Riley Moss, the 2021 Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year, will stay in Iowa City for a fifth season, he announced on Twitter Wednesday, after considering declaring for the NFL Draft.

“I have always dreamed of being a Hawkeye, and being able to live out this dream every day has been incredibly special for both me and my family,” Moss said in a tweet. “I have more goals I would like to achieve, and this team has more goals to achieve as well.”

Twitter

Moss had four interceptions in Iowa’s first six games before missing three games with a knee injury.

He earned spots on three of the five preeminent All-America teams — Sporting News’ first team, the Football Writers Association of America’s second team and the Associated Press’ third team.

The 6-foot-1 cornerback said before Iowa’s trip to the Citrus Bowl that the chance of him leaving to go pro was above 50 percent.

With Moss’ return, Iowa could have three of the five starting defensive backs returning from a secondary that intercepted an FBS-best 25 passes in 2021.

Safety/linebacker Dane Belton has not said yet whether he’ll declare for the NFL Draft. Free safety Jack Koerner already said he will not stay for a sixth year, and cornerback Matt Hankins is out of eligibility.

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