By Pat Harty

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Riley Moss seems to be saying two things with his decision to return to Iowa for a fifth season.

He loves being a Hawkeye, and he isn’t ready for the NFL just yet.

And if that truly is the case, Moss has made the right decision because it’s hard enough making the NFL, even if you are ready.

Unlike Iowa safety Jack Koerner, who as a fifth-year senior has chosen to bypass his free Covid year to enter the 2022 NFL draft, Moss is only a fourth-year junior.

That one year makes a big difference on and off the playing field.

You could argue that Moss is hot right now after being named the Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year this past season, and that he should strike while the iron is hot.

But he also missed three games this season due to a knee injury, and the NFL might be telling Moss that he would benefit from another year in college.

The NFL decision makers ultimately determine how hot the iron is, and right now perhaps they’re saying it’s hot enough to leave.

Moss has been a key player from the moment he joined the team as a true freshman in 2018.

The Ankeny native has a flair for the dramatic, as he showed in the 2021 season opener by returning two interceptions for touchdowns against Indiana.

But Moss also has struggled at times, especially in his early playing days, so perhaps Moss just believes that he needs more development under Phil Parker to come closer to reaching his potential.

Cornerback is a hard position to play because you’re often isolated on an island and matched against speedy and elusive receivers.

Moss plays it at a high level, but maybe he think there is more climbing to do in college.

His decision to return means that Iowa will have a veteran secondary, even with the loss of Koerner and senior cornerback Matt Hankins.

Assuming everyone else returns, namely junior safety Dane Belton, Iowa’s secondary will be stacked at safety and cornerback.

Moss, along with Terry Roberts and Jermari Harris, will give Iowa three proven cornerbacks with starting experience next season.

Harris was thrust into the starting lineup due to injuries to Hankins and Roberts, and though he struggled at times, especially early, he came on strong down the stretch.

Harris capped his season with a solid performance in the Citrus Bowl, finishing with six tackles, one interception and two pass breakups.

There is speculation Belton will declare for the draft after a junior season in which he led Iowa with five interceptions while playing both safety and linebacker in Iowa’s 4-2-5 cash alignment.

Belton is also hot right now, but his decision will ultimately come down to what he hears from the NFL from an evaluation standpoint.

But again, if everyone returns in the secondary, and if Iowa can find an adequate replacement for Caleb Shudak at kicker, then Iowa should be solid in two of the three parts that it takes to win games.

However, that’s a big, if, in regard to finding a kicker that could come close to matching what Shudak did this season when he made 24 of 28 field-goal attempts and all 36 of his point-after kicks.

Redshirt freshman Aron Blom and sophomore Lucas Amaya are expected to compete for the job, along with incoming freshman Drew Stevens.

The Iowa defense could be a force again next season.

Hankins and Koerner are both significant losses, as is All-Big Ten defensive end Zach VanValkenburg.

But the defensive line is stacked with players with valuable game experience, the top three linebackers return, and the secondary just kept a four-year starter for another season in Moss.

Combine all that talent and experience with Phil Parker’s guidance and instruction and there is reason to be optimistic about Iowa’s defense next season.

But the defense and special teams could sure use some help from the offense.