The Big 10 Best Returning defensive backs is another stalwart group in 2022. Only one from the conference went in the first two rounds of the NFL Draft, leaving a lot of top talent left in the conference. With two cornerbacks and two safeties, here’s a list of four of the Big 10 best returning defensive backs.
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Riley Moss, Cornerback, Iowa
The list kicks off with a familiar name to Big 10 fans. So familiar, that maybe it’s surprising to see him this low on the list. Moss was the 2021 Big 10 Defensive Back of the Year. He returns for a fifth season with the Hawkeyes after his best season to date. Moss missed four games in 2019 due to injury but made third-team All-Big 10 in 2020. A year later, Moss upped his game, raking in various All-American honors. He earned those honors via four interceptions, five pass breakups, and three pass breakups.
Moss has accumulated 10 interceptions and 15 pass breakups in his career, alongside three defensive touchdowns. Last season, Moss started strong, recording two pick-sixes against Indiana in the season opener. All four interceptions came in conference play. He’s a defensive force and, like each name on this list, has a case to be No. 1.
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Avery Young, Safety, Rutgers
Coming in at No. 3 on the Big 10 Best Returning Defensive Backs is another fifth year. Avery Young made an immediate impact as a freshman, leading the Scarlet Knights’ secondary in tackles. He broke up ten passes as a freshman, and then five as a sophomore while picking up his first interception. Young’s junior season proved exceptionally strong, with four tackles for loss and three forced fumbles.
As a senior, Young put together the best parts of his game. He recorded a pair of sacks, and he added an interception, two tackles for loss, and a forced fumble. Young also posted a career-high 77 tackles, ending his season with a 13-tackle performance against Maryland. He now enters a fifth year as a proven and valuable contributor. Rutgers finished last season 5-7 and made a bowl game as a late substitute. They’ll be looking to improve on that finish in 2022 and seek a winning record. Young must quarterback the defense from the secondary to lead the Scarlet Knights to postseason football.
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Xavier Henderson, Safety, Michigan State
Making the list as the top returning safety, Xavier Henderson returns for the Michigan State Spartans. In a recurring theme, Henderson is also a fifth-year player. He filled his role well for the first three years, but Henderson exploded in 2021. Entering the season, Henderson had four tackles for loss and two interceptions for his career. In 2022, he recorded 10 tackles for loss and three sacks. He added an interception, two pass breakups and a forced fumble. His best game was a 17-tackle effort versus Nebraska. Additionally, he recorded a tackle for loss in nine different games.
Henderson has started 33 straight games for the Spartans, serving as a senior captain throughout 2021. Beyond that, he’s a defensive stalwart, staying on for most, if not all, defensive snaps. Against Miami last season, he played all 90 snaps. He was second on the team in snaps played as a sophomore, and he led the Spartans in the past two seasons. After Michigan State returned to prominence with a New Year’s Six bowl win last season, Henderson will look to lead them to a Big 10 title in 2022/
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Tiawan Mullen, Cornerback, Indiana
The only non-fifth year on the list, Taiwan Mullen earns the top slot in the Big 10 Best Returning defensive backs list. Mullen only played in seven games last season as injury limited his chance at a third straight strong campaign. He started his career strong with three-and-half tackles for loss and 13 pass breakups. The latter stat led the conference. As a sophomore, Mullen diversified his game, picking up three interceptions to go with three-and-a-half sacks. That sack total led all Big 10 defensive backs. He added four-and-a-half tackles for loss and four pass breakups.
As a junior, Mullen only started four games. He only recorded stats in five contests, and only one after September. Injuries derailed Mullen’s campaign, but the former All-American is coming back for his senior season. He’s a possible day 2 NFL Draft pick and the best returning defensive back in the Big 10.
