Two thirds of the Iowa Hawkeye defensive line will be moving on to the NFL. The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports that junior defensive tackle Daviyon Nixon and senior defensive end Chauncey Golston have announced that they have declared themselves eligible for the NFL Draft. Senior defensive end Zach VanValkenburg says he will play one more season at Iowa.

The Nixon move should come to no one's surprise. What more could he have done in 2020? He was named first team All American and the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. He tied for the Big Ten lead in sacks with 5.5 and 13.5 tackles for loss. Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz said that he is "happy for Daviyon and his family. A year ago he was a part time player, and today he leaves our program as the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year."

The Gazette reports that Chauncey Golston went from a relative undersized unknown to first team All Big Ten. Golston had 4.5 sacks this season and 7.5 tackles for loss.

VanValkenburg announced that he is taking advantage of a rule in 2020 that allows players to get an extra year of eligibility due to the pandemic. Seniors including Alaric Jackson, Brandon Smith, Shaun Beyer, Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Nick Nieman, and Mekhi Sargent have all announced that they are preparing for the NFL Draft.

Coach Ferentz thanked all 21 seniors for their dedication to the Hawkeye football program and for making the program better throughout the course of their careers.

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