We round out this portion of our annual “Best Of” series with a look at the Best Returning defensive backs in the Big 10. This gives us a complete roster with the best returning players at each position.
Best Returning Defensive Backs in the Big 10
To remind everyone of the parameters, these have to be players returning to the Big 10. They can be transfers if they moved from another Big 10 school. Anyone who transferred in from outside the Big 10 is not eligible. For the defensive backs, we are opting to go with a straight four players, with the mix of cornerbacks and safeties. We are not feeling obligated to two of each, particularly with many of them having to learn either position during the course of a season. You will just have to read on to see the mix we used. The players are ranked from fourth to first regardless of which position in the secondary they play.
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John Nestor, cornerback; Minnesota Golden Gophers
We start off our list with the fourth-year defensive back for Minnesota. This will be his second season with the Golden Gophers after spending two seasons with the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Nestor started in 11 games for Minnesota last season. The 2025 season was his best of his career. He finished with 50 total tackles, six tackles for loss, six pass breakups, and six interceptions. For good measure, he averaged just under 19 yards per interception return. He had totaled 16 tackles over 20 games in his previous two seasons at Iowa.
His performance against Wisconsin got him the Big 10 Defensive Player of the Week. He had nine tackles, two interceptions, and two fumble recoveries in Minnesota’s win in late November.
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Zach Lutmer, cornerback, Iowa Hawkeyes
Lutmer is the reason we worry less about how many corners and how many safeties we put in. Lutmer can, and has played, cornerback, free safety, strong safety, and the cash position, which is Iowa’s defensive back/linebacker hybrid role.
He started 13 games in 2025, finishing with 71 total tackles, five-and-a-half tackles for loss, one sack, three interceptions with a pick-six, and seven pass breakups. He was a coaches’ selection for second-team All-Big Ten after proving to be one of the most versatile defensive backs in the conference.
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Koi Perich, safety, Oregon Ducks
Perich is the rule. He is a transfer to Oregon for the 2026 season. But he came from within the conference, having played for Minnesota in 2025.
If his name sounds recently familiar, it is likely because we also put him on the top returning lineup for Big 10 Specialists. He had 19 kickoff returns for 499 yards and 18 punt returns, earning those honors from us.
In terms of his prowess as a defensive back, the 6’-1”, 200-pound junior had 82 total tackles, including three for a loss, one sack, one interception, a forced fumble, and three pass breakups. He was a second-team all-conference on defense as chosen by The Sporting News. He was a Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year semifinalist and a Football Writers Association Freshman All-American back in 2024 with Minnesota.
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Brandon Finney, cornerback, Oregon Ducks
That’s right. We have a defensive back list with no Ohio State or Michigan players. There were a couple of Buckeyes and a Wolverine who got looks, but we like the four we have.
Finney was just a freshman in 2025 in Eugene, but started all 15 games for the Ducks. He had 28 total tackles, including 14 tackles for a loss, three sacks, three interceptions, and 37 pass breakups…37. That led the entire Big 10 for the season. He allowed just one touchdown all season.
The stats may not be as lofty as some of our others on the list. But we don’t just pull up stats. We watch the games. If you saw what this youngster did to Texas Tech in the Orange Bowl/Playoff quarterfinal, you would know how good he was already as just a first-year player. He had two interceptions, a fumble recovery, and six tackles as he was named the Defensive Player of the Game.
For all of these efforts, he was an FWAA Freshman All-American selection and was second-team All-Big 10 on defense.
Last Word will continue its look at the best returning players for each conference, by position, throughout the Summer. Next will be the Big 12.
Main Image: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
