Iowa football: 2019 NFL Draft preview of Amani Hooker

Iowa football player Amani Hooker was a catalyst for the Hawkeyes top-ten defense this season. Now he’s heading to the NFL. Here’s his draft preview.

Sophomore safety’s emergence mandated that the Iowa football team find a way to get three safeties on the field. Fortunately for the Hawkeyes, they had Amani Hooker on their team. At 6’0”, 210 pounds he was not only able to play the safety over the top role but able to come down and assist in run support or even split out into the nickel cornerback spot. His versatility allowed the Iowa football team to do something they’ve never done on a consistent basis: run a more modern defensive scheme to handle the rise in spread passing attacks.

Now, it’s an integral part of their defensive schemes, and the big question heading into next year’s Iowa football season is who can replace Amani Hooker in the “cash” role that was built by him.

To be fair, nobody can truly replace Hooker, and that’s exactly why he will be a highly coveted safety prospect on day two of this year’s NFL Draft. He’s not 100% scheme-interchangeable per se, but he is able to adapt to *most* of today’s schemes and he fits perfectly in today’s NFL that plays a nickel defense almost as much as they do a base 3-4 or 4-3.

At this point, the only thing that could possibly hold Hooker back is the NFL not willing to recognize that Phil Parker can produce elite level defensive backs. Desmond King fell to the 5th round and Josh Jackson fell to the middle of the 2nd despite both being projected much higher. What’s in store for Hooker we will find out hopefully in the next two days.

What the scouts are saying:

•  Physical safety willing to get his hands dirty
•  Great in zone coverage and good at baiting the quarterback
•  Lack of “elite” athleticism
•  Willing tackler, but somewhat inconsistent on form and angles
•  Versatility allows him to play many positions

The Draft Network’s Joe Marino summed up Hooker in this way:

"Hooker is an instinctive safety that thrives defending short zones, playing forward, making plays on the ball and matching up with tight ends in man coverage. With that said, he does have some restrictions in man coverage and isn’t a candidate to be a single high deep zone defender."

What the numbers say:

• 16th in the nation in interceptions (4)
• Team-high 7 passes defended
• 3.5 tackles for loss and 1 sack
• Tatum-Woodson Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year
• First Team All-Big Ten
• Second-Team All-American

Projection:

•  Ideally, Hooker plays in a cover-2 scheme where is not the lone safety deep or plays in a scheme similar to how Cardinals’ safety/linebacker Deone Bucannon was used his first few years in the league. Bottom line, he just needs to play with a defensive coordinator that doesn’t try to fit Hooker into his scheme but finds a way to use his versatility all over the field. With safeties not being as valued as they have been in the past, I expect Hooker to fall to the third round. The Denver Broncos at pick 71 makes a ton of sense with Vic Fangio and Ed Donatell running the show defensively.

Because of his unique ability to play a variety of roles, Hooker’s career success, more so then Fant, Hockenson, and Nelson depends heavily on the team that takes him. A team that uses his skill set to the fullest potential will allow the Minnesota native to blossom in the NFL.

The former Iowa football player will likely hear his name called in the middle of day two on Friday evening.