By Pat Harty

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Somewhat lost in his team’s struggles, and with his struggles as a punt returner is that Josh Jackson is having one heck of a season at cornerback for the Iowa football team.

The junior from Corinth, Texas leads the Big Ten in passes defended (13) and passes broken up (11) and is tied for fourth with two interceptions.

Jackson also has 30 tackles, which is tied for fifth on his team, including 22 solo stops, many of which likely prevented long gains from happening because they came in space with little help nearby.

Cornerback was a concern heading into the season as Iowa moved on without Desmond King and Greg Mabin after they had combined to start seven seasons. King is arguably the greatest cornerback in school history, while Mabin was a rare three-year starter for the Hawkeyes.

They both are certainly missed, but Iowa, thanks largely to Jackson, has much bigger concerns than the situation at cornerback heading into Saturday’s game against Minnesota.

The 6-foot-1, 192-pound Jackson is performing at a star level and showing signs of having NFL potential, with his quick hips, quick feet and long frame.

Jackson had shown flashes before this season while playing mostly on special teams and in nickel coverages, but nothing to suggest that he would be this effective so soon.

Jackson is one of the team’s most pleasant surprises, although, he doesn’t see it that way.

He seemed a little offended when asked on Tuesday if he was surprised by his success as a first-year starter.

“I wouldn’t say I’m really surprised,” Jackson said. “I worked hard this whole offseason and I’ve been working hard ever since I’ve been here. So I wouldn’t say I’m really surprised. It’s my job. It’s what I’m supposed to do.

“So that’s what is expected. It’s not really a surprise. That’s what the coaches expect out of me and I just have to make sure I can come in each day and just do my job to the best of my ability.”

Jackson fits the description of an Iowa player under Kirk Ferentz in so many ways, from being lightly recruited in high school to having switched positions twice since becoming a Hawkeye.

Jackson came to Iowa as a defensive back then switched to receiver before finally settling on cornerback.

He wasn’t ready to play as a true freshman in 2014, so he was redshirted and used that year to get stronger, mentally and physically.

Jackson then started working his way up the depth chart in 2015 when he saw limited action in all 14 games. He saw action in 12 games last season, with one start, which came in the Outback Bowl.

He then solidified himself as a starter during spring practice, but still was considered Iowa’s other cornerback behind sophomore Manny Rugamba.

Rugamba had endeared himself to fans by performing well after Mabin was injured late last season. Rugamba had an interception in the second half against Michigan that helped to secure a 14-13 upset at Kinnick Stadium.

But he was suspended for the 2017 season opener against Wyoming for violating an undisclosed team policy and has been slowed by a high ankle sprain.

So now Jackson is clearly Iowa’s top cornerback.

He credits part of his success to watching and listening to King and Mabin go about their business on a daily basis.

But there still is no substitute for experience.

“Definitely, mental reps are good watching them,” Jackson said. “But you obviously have to get reps on the field to really understand what’ it’s like to play. You watch them and you see all the techniques that they do, and you have to feel out what they do. But when you get on the field, it’s a little bit different. You have to go through it and learn your technique and learn your craft and what works for you.”

As for his issues with punt returns, Jackson has struggled with when and when not to field some punts.

He chose not to catch a punt in last Saturday’s 17-10 overtime loss at Northwestern despite being well beyond his own 10-yard line and the ball rolled to the Iowa 3-yard line for what turned into an 80-yard punt by Northwestern’s Hunter Niswander.

“The other day was a tough day,” Ferentz said Tuesday when asked about the situation at punter. “You had the sun, you had the wind, and that guy hit that one, it was like, are you kidding me? That is something if we knew he was going to hit it with 65 yards, we would have had him back at 65.

“But, I mean, wow, that was a huge play in the game, too. Just flipping field position. That's crazy. But those things happen.”

Ferentz said he would keep an open about the situation at punt returner.

Senior receiver Matt VandeBerg was expected to be the primary punt returner and was for the season opener against Wyoming. But VandeBerg is also coming off two injuries to the same foot, so there is a risk with putting him back there.

Jackson has made some questionable decisions as a punt returner, but also has been sure-handed for the most part and is willing to take chances.

He isn’t Desmond King by any stretch of the imagination, but Jackson must be Iowa’s best option as a punt returner or he wouldn’t be back there.

As a cornerback, Jackson is rock solid, equally effective against the run and pass.

And his future is changing right before our eyes.

In fact, NFL draft guru Mel Kiper Jr., has Jackson ranked among the top 10 cornerbacks for the 2018 draft despite Jackson only being a fourth-year junior.

Jackson had to wait for his turn to play at Iowa, but it was well worth it. In just seven games, Jackson has gone from being Iowa’s other cornerback to a star in the making.