By Pat Harty

IOWA CITY, Iowa – On paper, because that’s all there is right now, the 2022 Iowa football team appears rock solid on defense.

The recent decisions by linebacker Jack Campbell and cornerback Riley Moss to return for another season will give Iowa two of the best players in the Big Ten at their respective positions.

Campbell led Iowa with 140 tackles during the 2021 season, while Moss was named the Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year despite missing three games due to a knee injury.

In addition to what they bring on the field, Campbell and Moss also bring leadership and experience, and a team can never have enough of that.

Iowa will return its top three linebackers from this past season, four defensive backs with starting experience and three starters on the defensive line.

The loss of All-Big Ten defensive end Zach VanValkenburg is significant, but John Waggoner and Joe Evans both return at that position with loads of playing experience.

Deontae Craig also showed flashes at defensive end as a redshirt freshman this past season.

Defensive tackle might be the deepest position on the team as the top four players at those two spots are expected to return. They are Noah Shannon, Logan Lee, Lukas Van Ness and Yahya Black.

The secondary will also receive a boost with the addition of five-star recruit Xavier Nwankpa at one of the safety positions.

The loss of junior safety Dane Belton to the NFL certainly hurts, but Kaevon Merriweather also returns at safety with extensive playing experience.

Junior-to-be Jermari Harris made huge strides at cornerback after becoming a starter midway through the season due to injuries to Matt Hankins and Terry Roberts.

Harris started six games and played both cornerback positions. And he saved his best performance for last as he had six tackles and an interception in Iowa’s 20-17 loss to Kentucky in the Citrus Bowl.

“This is sad, we really wanted this one for the seniors, just to end 2021 season off right,” Harris said after the Citrus Bowl. “Sad that the seniors are leaving, but the underclassmen, we’ve got work to do, and hopefully, come back in 2022 stronger.”

Combine all the returning players on defense with Phil Parker’s wisdom and there is reason to be optimistic about that side of the line of scrimmage.

Iowa almost always has a strong defense under Parker, but the 2022 defense looks to be special, at least on paper, assuming everybody returns and stays healthy, and that two or three young defensive backs emerge.

Iowa’s defense will also have the benefit of Tory Taylor’s punting prowess next season.

There were only two games this past season against Purdue and Michigan in which the Iowa defense failed to perform at an acceptable level.

Purdue’s spread offense under head coach Jeff Brohm appears to be Parker’s kryptonite, while Michigan used trick plays to burn Iowa early in the game.

Iowa lost to Wisconsin 27-7 on Oct. 30 in Madison, Wisconsin, but to little fault of the defense, which only allowed 270 yards, and just 104 passing yards.

The defense ultimately grew tired against the Badgers because of having to spend so much time on the field due to Iowa’s sputtering offense, which was held to 156 yards, including just 24 rushing yards.

Speaking of the offense, it could ultimately determine how much Iowa accomplishes next season.

There is also a huge hole to fill at kicker where sixth-year senior Caleb Shudak has to be replaced.

Shudak had one of the best single-seasons ever for an Iowa kicker, making 24 of 28 field-goal attempts and all 36 of his point-after kicks.

If Shudak’s replacement performs well, then Iowa should be strong in two of the three phases next season because you know what to expect from Taylor as a punter, and because the defense is loaded.

This is a huge offseason for Iowa offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz, who faces the daunting task of trying to fix an offense that struggled to run, struggled to pass and struggled to make explosive plays this past season.

Some will say that Iowa finished 10-4 this past season in spite of the offense.

Iowa held five opponents to 14 or fewer points this past season, but Iowa also scored seven or fewer points in three of its four losses.

The old saying goes that defenses win championships, but it’s not that simple as Iowa’s performance showed this past season.