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Iowa Football: Ranking the top five Hawkeyes in the NFL

By Justin Stallman

SANTA CLARA, CA - DECEMBER 23: George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers makes a catch against the Chicago Bears during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on December 23, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Robert Reiners/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA - DECEMBER 23: George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers makes a catch against the Chicago Bears during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on December 23, 2018 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Robert Reiners/Getty Images) /
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KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – DECEMBER 13: Defensive back Desmond King #20 of the Los Angeles Chargers celebrates after the Chargers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 29-28 to win the game at Arrowhead Stadium on December 13, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – DECEMBER 13: Defensive back Desmond King #20 of the Los Angeles Chargers celebrates after the Chargers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 29-28 to win the game at Arrowhead Stadium on December 13, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images) /

4. Desmond King

Desmond King’s bright future started in the city of Detroit, Michigan where he was a standout at East English Village Prep Academy. In his high school career, Kind set a state record for interceptions and a school record for rushing yards.

The dominance continued when he joined the Iowa football team as King was a four-year starter for the Hawkeyes becoming the first true freshman to start at defensive back for Kirk Ferentz since Jovan Johnson in 2002. As a junior, he turned in one of the finest seasons in Iowa football history as he grabbed eight interceptions and was named First Team All-American while taking home the Jim Thorpe Award. He followed that up with First Team All-American honors in his senior season as well.

Despite an impressive career with the Hawks, King fell to the fifth round of the NFL Draft where he was selected by the Los Angeles Chargers.

Since King joined the NFL, he’s recorded 133 total tackles, 4 sacks, 4 interceptions, and 2 touchdowns. In just his sophomore season, King had a breakout year finishing with one of the top corner grades according to Pro Football Focus and being named First-Team All-Pro.

I placed King at number four because he’s proved he can compete with other top defensive backs in the league and has the ability and IQ to continue becoming a ballhawk like he was at Iowa.

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