By John Bohnenkamp

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Tory Taylor knew he made the right decision coming back to Iowa this season.

But, even with one year of eligibility remaining, Taylor has decided that four seasons with the Hawkeyes was enough.

“Yeah, this will be my last one,” the punter said during Tuesday’s media availability.

Age, Taylor said, is the biggest factor in his decision.

Asked if he was considering using that final year granted by the NCAA to anyone who played through the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, Taylor said, “To be completely honest, no. I’m 26 (years old). It has crossed my mind but, yeah, I’m 26. I’m really grateful for my last four years at Iowa, but yeah, this is my last one.”

Taylor’s goal is to try to play in the NFL — he is considered one of the top punting prospects in next spring’s draft.

Taylor, who hadn’t played football before he came from Australia in 2020, said he has no regrets about the decision to come to Iowa.

“I just learned that good things happen to those who are willing to get out of their comfort zone and take chances,” he said. “Don’t stay in your comfort zone all of your life. Just try to get out there and do things that are uncomfortable, because that’s the only way you’re going to grow.”

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SHANNON’S SENIOR DAY: Noah Shannon didn’t get to play his final year of eligibility because of his suspension by the NCAA for gambling.

But Shannon will participate in Saturday’s Senior Day ceremonies before Iowa’s game against Illinois at Kinnick Stadium.

“He’s more than earned that,” Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said.

Ferentz has been one of Shannon’s biggest defenders during his appeal process, and he continued that defense on Tuesday.

“He is so respected by everybody in this building. Again, I’m not minimizing speeding tickets, but that’s really what this thing is the equivalent of, so it’s tough. I’m sorry.”

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USING THE EXTRA SEASON: Sixteen of the 20 players who will be honored on Senior Day will be fourth-year or fifth-year players, which means some will be eligible to use that extra season of eligibility granted by the NCAA.

If they want to use it, though, Ferentz wants them to come back for a reason.

“The one component to that, as I always tell the guys, don’t come back if you want us to kiss your ass every day because we’re not doing that,” Ferentz said. “We’re going to coach you and work with you like we have since you’ve been here.”

Ferentz said he wants players to be committed.

“As long as they’re coming back for the right reasons, obviously we’d love to have them back, but we’re not going to sell them,” he said. “We’re not going to try to pitch anything to them. Just hope they’d want to come back, but if they move on, we’re with them on that too. You don’t want guys on the team that aren’t here heart and soul. It just doesn’t work out very well.”

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HALL OF FAMERS: Four former Iowa players will be inducted into the Iowa High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame this weekend.

Dan Dickel, James Morris, Lon Olejniczak and Mark Sindlinger will be honored at halftime of the Class 5A championship game at the UNI Dome in Cedar Falls.

Dickel led the Big Ten in tackles for loss and was named Iowa’s team MVP in 1972, before playing in the All-American Bowl. He played five NFL seasons before going into high school coaching, featuring stops all around the Iowa City area at City High, West, Regina, Highland and Lone Tree.

Morris was an All-American at Iowa in 2013,  finishing as a Lott and Campbell Trophy finalist. He spent three seasons in the NFL, including a Super Bowl win with the New England Patriots at linebacker and on special teams.

Olejniczak played football and baseball at the University of Iowa, starting at multiple positions and on special teams in 1980-81. He was also a four-year letterwinner in football.

He suffered a broken leg, but came back to make a significant contribution as a senior in 1983.

Sindlinger was a four-year letterwinner in football at Iowa, starting three years at center and playing in four bowl games, including the 1986 Rose Bowl while winning a Big Ten title and earning All-America honors in wrestling.