Iowa’s 2021 secondary has chance to be special with five starters returning
Senior cornerback Matt Hankins recently announced he plans to return
By Pat Harty
IOWA CITY, Iowa – With all of its personnel losses, it’s easy to focus on what the Iowa football team doesn’t have coming back in 2021.
From All-America defensive tackle Daviyon Nixon to All-Big Ten offensive lineman Alaric Jackson and All-Big Ten defensive end Chauncey Golston, and multi-year starting receivers Ihmir Smith-Marsette and Brandon Smith, Iowa’s losses are significant, and a concern.
But let’s look at it another way.
Among the starters returning for Iowa include All-America center Tyler Linderbaum, All-Big Ten running back Tyler Goodson, quarterback Spencer Petras, tight end Sam LaPorta, defensive end Zach VanValkenburg, linebacker Jack Campbell, All-Big Ten punter Tory Taylor, and all five starters in the secondary.
The secondary became set when senior cornerback Matt Hankins recently announced that he would return for a fifth season, saying he has unfinished business.
Even without Hankins, the secondary would’ve been one of the most experienced units on the team.
But with him, it’s not even close.
It’s hard to think of many other times when Phil Parker had his top five defensive backs returning.
Just think of the trust and familiarity that Parker has built with his current secondary.
The 6-foot, 180-pound Hankins has started 26 games as a Hawkeye and has three interceptions and five pass breakups.
Hankins, a native of Lewisville, Texas, will join Jack Koerner, Riley Moss, Kaevon Merriweather and Dane Belton as returning starters in the Iowa secondary.
Iowa often uses a 4-2-5 defensive alignment, and Parker will have the luxury of putting a starter at each of the five spots next season.
Iowa had a stretch from the 2019 season to this past season in which it had at least one interception in 11 consecutive games.
Iowa has had 14 defensive backs earn first-team All-Big accolades under Phil Parker dating back to 1999.
So yes, there are some huge personnel losses that are reason for concern, especially on defense where All-Big Ten linebacker Nick Niemann also has to be replaced.
But with five starters back in the secondary, and with Phil Parker in charge of the defense, there is reason to be optimistic about Iowa’s potential.
Parker was an All-Big Ten safety for Michigan State in the 1980s, and he’s now one of the most respected defensive coordinators in college football. He also coaches the Iowa secondary, which is another bonus.
Iowa closed the 2020 season with six consecutive victories, so there already is momentum building, even with the postseason game against Michigan and the Music City Bowl matchup against Missouri having both been canceled due to COVID-19 health concerns.
Should opponents struggle to run against Iowa next season, they could be in trouble because passing against the Hawkeye should be a daunting task.