Answer to million dollar question (literally) awaits Reiff

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Derrick Morgan, Aldon Smith, J.J. Watt, Brooks Reed, Cameron Heyward, soon Frank Alexander and Adrian Clayborn every day in practice.

These are the top-tier defensive ends Iowa offensive tackle Riley Reiff has faced during his three seasons at Iowa, mostly as the team's starting left tackle. Five of the six players in that sentence are in the NFL.

Alexander, Oklahoma's standout defensive end and Big 12 defensive MVP, will be in the NFL. And of course, you know who Adrian Clayborn is.

"Brooks Reed from Arizona [now Houston Texans], he was a good player, really quick," Reiff said Wednesday. "They're all good players. You can go down the list. Adrian Clayborn, every day. They're all good. I've played against a lot of good players and they all bring something different to the table."

So, what's left for Reiff, a 23-year-old junior who's been all-Big Ten the last two seasons, to prove at Iowa?

He's been a three-year starter for the Hawkeyes. He's on everyone's NFL mock draft list, including ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper listing him at No. 10 on his "big board."

The answer isn't as cut-and-dry and you might think.

"I guess I never really think about what I'd have to prove," said Reiff, a native of Parkston, S.D. "I want to be the best player I can be. We have great coaches here."

Sooner or later, Reiff should continue the gold rush of Iowa left tackles. From Robert Gallery to Marshal Yanda to Bryan Bulaga, Iowa offensive line coach Reese Morgan and head coach Kirk Ferentz, who handles the tackles, know what they're doing.

Reiff had the raw skills. He is 6-foot-6 and hovers around 300 pounds. He won three state wrestling titles at Parkston High School and finished with a career record of 121-1. To this day, before he trots onto the field for Iowa's first possession, he does that wrestler's shuffle for a warmup.

"It's one-on-one [football matchup], but it is still a team game," Reiff said. "I'm still a wrestler at heart. I learned a lot of lessons. How to compete. It's a great sport, but so is football."

Reiff came in as a redshirt in 2008, which happened to be Bulaga's sophomore season. Simply put, Bulaga taught Reiff a lot, mostly the details that would help make him a junior with an NFL decision to make.

"He would always call me up and say, 'Hey, let's go work out in the bubble [Iowa's indoor football facility],'" Reiff said. "'Let's get some extra work in.' This would be after lifting in the summer. He showed me all the little things. He taught me how to watch film. . . . Still to this day, he helps me a lot, when it comes to football and players I'm going against.

"He's just a great guy. I can't say enough for what he's done for me."

Reiff came to Iowa an accomplished high school wrestler and was initially headed to defensive end. He was tutored early by a future first-round draft pick who won a Super Bowl ring with the Green Bay Packers last season.

And, yes, Bulaga also left Iowa a year early to enter the NFL, signing a five-year, $11.75 million contract.

Ferentz pushed through the NFL questions about Reiff on Wednesday. Official word will come after the bowl. Reiff said the plan was to discuss with family two days after the game.

"It's a good thing but it's a bad thing when they leave," Ferentz said. "We have a couple other guys who are practicing well. [But] We will be a better football team with Riley.

"You can't replace a guy with his experience, all he brings is toughness, production, and this guy is a really good football player. I'm hopeful he will be back. But I also want what's best for him. Every guy we are trying to recruit, we want to help them get to where they want to get through in their college career.

"It's his decision and I don't want to speculate right now. I think it is an open book at this point."

For his part, Reiff said he hasn't made his decision.

"I really love the University of Iowa. I love playing for coach Ferentz and coach Morgan," Reiff said. "I love everything about it."

But . . .

"At the end of the day, I've got to make a decision," he continued. "It's going to be what I think is best for my future. If that's going to the NFL or if that's staying, whatever it is, it'll be the right decision."

Derrick Morgan, Aldon Smith, J.J. Watt, Brooks Reed, Cameron Heyward, soon Frank Alexander and Adrian Clayborn every day in practice.

How would you spend $1 million, Riley?

"What would I do? I don't know," he said with a laugh. "Hopefully not spend it all."