Iowa football: Three biggest surprises from 2019 NFL Draft

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IOWA CITY, IOWA- SEPTEMBER 08: Runningback David Montgomery #32 of the Iowa State Cyclones is brought down during the first half by defensive back Amani Hooker #27of the Iowa Hawkeyes on September 8, 2018 at Kinnick Stadium, in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) /

Amani Hooker falls to the fourth round with Tennessee

This lack of respect that continues to be shown by the NFL to Phil Parker’s defensive backfield unit is starting to frustrate me. Three of the last four winners of the Tatum-Woodson Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year awards have entered the NFL Draft as Iowa football players with early-round expectations. Each of them (Desmond King, Josh Jackson, and now Amani Hooker) left having dropped a round or more from their initial projections.

So what I am saying is this shouldn’t actually be a surprise all things considered.

Yet, here we are a day later, and I am still frustrated by the drop.

It wasn’t because of a lack of versatility.

It wasn’t because of a lack of athleticism.

The safety class wasn’t deep like Nelson’s defensive end class.

So what exactly was it?

We may never know, but it doesn’t matter anymore. Hooker should be entering the NFL with a chip on his shoulder much like he did when he joined the Iowa football program after receiving zero other Power-5 scholarship offers.