IOWA CITY, Iowa – Former Iowa defensive back Dane Belton is headed to the Big Apple after he was selected by the New York Giants in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft on Saturday, and with the 114th pick overall.

Belton entered the draft as a true junior after having played just three seasons at Iowa.

The Tampa, Florida native led the Big Ten with five interceptions last seasons while playing the Cash position for Iowa, which is a combination of defensive back and linebacker.

Former Iowa defensive back Amania Hooker was the first Hawkeye to play the Cash position in 2018 and he would go on to be named the Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year that season and was selected by the Tennesee Titans in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL draft.

Hooker’s success also has served as motivation for Belton.

“He paved the way for guys like me to excel at the Cash postition,” Belton said during the season. “He showed the way to do it.”

Belton is the 17th Iowa defensive back under Kirk Ferentz to be selected in th NFL draft and the fourth since 2019.

In addition to Hooker being picked in the fourth round in 2019, defensive backs Michael Ojemudia and Geno Stone were selected by the Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens in the third and seventh rounds, respectively, in 2020.

Belton is the second Iowa player to be taken in the 2022 NFL draft as former All-America center Tyler Linderbaum was picked in the first round by the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday, and with the 25th pick overall.

Belton is also the 81st Iowa player under Kirk Ferentz to be selected in the NFL draft.

This year’s draft marked just the sixth time in 23 years under Kirk Ferentz that Iowa has had fewer than three players selected in the NFL draft.

Iowa free agent signings:

Tyler Goodson, RB, Green Bay Packers

Matt Hankins, DB, Atlanta Falcons

Zach VanValkenburg, DE, Las Vegas Raiders

Jack Koerner, DB, New Orleans Saints

Caleb Shudak, K, Tennessee Titans

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