Inside The Hawkeyes

Combine Capsule: Riley Moss

Iowa Defensive Back Puts Best Foot Forward in Indianapolis

Rob Howe

Iowa cornerback Riley Moss during pregame warmups before the Hawkeyes faced Iowa State on Sept. 10, 2022 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Rob Howe/HawkeyeNation.com)
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Riley Moss weighed heavily whether to leave after last season for the NFL or return for another season of college. He ultimately chose the latter. 

Moss (6-1, 193) will find out this spring if his decision turns out. Iowa's star defensive back is showing off his skills for scouts with the draft approaching next month. 

The Ankeny (IA) Centennial graduate took part in Senior Bowl Week in early February and the scouting combine last week in Indianapolis. He performed well at both events. 

Perhaps the biggest question regarding Moss and his place in the NFL is whether he's a safety or cornerback, his college position. His scouting report written by Lance Zierlein at NFL.com is conflicted. 

"An instinctive cornerback with good size and play strength, Moss will need to prove he has the speed and durability needed for the next level. He has issues recovering quickly when beaten from press or at route breaks. Ballhawking instincts and soft hands are a big part of his game, as is his physicality at the catch point and as a tackler. He has CB3/4 potential in a zone-based defense, but could find reps at safety in the future if a team believes he has the frame for it."

Moss matched up well with other cornerbacks at the combine in terms of athletic analytics. Next Gen Stats ranked his performance 13th best there. His RAS score was the third best among cornerbacks with it spitting out comps to Green Bay's Eric Stokes and Tampa Bay's Sean Murphy-Bunting. 

During the combine testing, Moss posted solid numbers. His 10-yard split (1.48 seconds) and vertical jump (39.0 inches) ranked sixth among cornerbacks, while his 40-yard dash (4.45) was 12th best. 

Moss put plenty of good film together during his five seasons playing with the Hawkeyes. The 2021 Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year and two-time first-team all-conference selection picked off 11 passes in his career, the seventh most in program history. 

With limited roster space (53 players), the NFL welcomes versatile athletes. Moss has position flexibility and can definitely help on special teams. 

Time will tell if Moss's pre-draft testing will boost him in the draft. Most early mock drafts only predict the first couple of rounds and Moss isn't listed that high. 

Here's are a few prognostications that extend beyond that:

Chad Reuter, NFL.com - 3rd RD, Pick No. 76 overall, New England

DraftTek.com - 3rd RD, Pick No. 89 overall, New York Giants 

Shane Hallam, DraftCountdown.com - 3rd RD, Pick 102 overall, San Francisco

Lines.com - 3rd RD, Pick No. 76 overall, New England 

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Rob Howe
ROB HOWE

HN Staff

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