IOWA CITY, Iowa – Iowa defensive coordinator Phil Parker has yet another reason to feel optimistic about his 2024 defense.

The latest reason is linebacker Nick Jackson’s decision to return for a sixth season.

News broke Sunday night that Jackson has decided to return to Iowa, which means Iowa will have one of the most productive linebacker duos  in the country next season.

Jackson is at least the fourth member of the Iowa defense who has recently decided to return for one more season instead of entering the 2024 NFL draft,  joining All-Big Ten linebacker Jay Higgins and defensive backs Jermari Harris and Sebastian Castro.

Jackson transferred to Iowa prior to last season as a graduate student after having played for four seasons for Virginia.

The Atlanta, Georgia native recorded 110 tackles this season to rank second on the team behind Higgins, who tied Iowa’s single-season record with 171 tackles.

Jackson, who turned 23 on Saturday, has recorded four consecutive 100-tackle seasons, and he’s 113 shy of tying the NCAA record of 577 career tackles. He started 33 games for Virginia and finished with 354 tackles, including 161 solo tackles.

The NCAA recently granted Jackson a waiver for a sixth season due to his 2022 season having been cut short after 10 games at Virginia following the shooting deaths of three of his Virginia teammates in Nov. 2022.

Iowa needed help at linebacker after having lost 2022 Butkus Award winner Jack Campbell and three year starter Seth Benson to graduation.

Jackson would prove to be the ideal fit, and a nice complement to Higgins at linebacker.

Iowa had one of the top defenses in the country this past season, and now four key pieces to that defense will return next season.

That helps to compensate for the loss of All-America junior cornerback Cooper DeJean, who has decided to enter the 2024 NFL draft where he projects as a likely first-round pick.

Iowa could have another key member of the defense return next season should senior free safety Quinn Schulte decide to stick with the Hawkeyes.

The Cedar Rapids native, who has started the past two season seasons, is deciding between playing one more season for Iowa, entering the 2024 NFL draft or attending dental school.