Iowa football: Ranking the top five defensive backs in Kirk’s tenure

1.Bob Sanders

The true GOAT, Bob Sanders, is a legend in the Iowa football program. Despite his diminutive size (5’8”, 200 pounds), he was a heck of a safety and one of the hardest hitters that has ever come through the Iowa City.

Although he didn’t produce the gaudiest of stats while wearing the black and a gold, he was a huge catalyst for the resurgence of the Iowa football team to national notoriety early in Kirk Ferentz’s tenure. In his four seasons with the Hawks, Sanders helped lead the team to three bowl games and two bowl game victories, including Kirk’s very first bowl game (2001 Alamo Bowl).

He was named to the All-Big Ten team three times and was named an All-American his senior season.

Sanders, more appropriately named as “The Hitmen”, sits seventh in team history with 348 tackles including one game where he had 25 tackles. He also added seven interceptions and an absurd amount of big hits and forced fumbles.

For his efforts, Bleacher Report named him the Iowa Hawkeye of the decade.

His incredible play continued when he reached the next level. After being drafted in the second round by the Colts, Sanders was named a two-time All-Pro and NFL Defensive Player of the Year.