NFL Draft: Iowa CB Desmond King a first round talent?

The Iowa Hawkeyes haven’t been BCS relevant since 2009, but all that has changed in 2015 with some great wins to start off the season, including a recent 10-6 victory over the Wisconsin Badgers.

It might not have been such for Iowa if not for the play of star cornerback Desmond King, who has been quickly (albeit, quietly) ascending as one of the best cornerbacks in the country though most people haven’t really been paying attention. We’ve written about King before here at NFL Mocks, and he’s certainly not off the radar as far as we are concerned, but with the way he’s showing out in 2015 it has one wondering whether or not he should be in contention to be a first round pick.

King is a junior from Detroit, making me wonder what exactly the two in-state Big Ten schools didn’t see in this kid when he was coming out as a prep. So far this season (five games), King has 29 tackles and five interceptions to go along with four pass breakups, nearly 19 yards averaged per punt return, and almost 23 yards per kick return.

This past week against Wisconsin, King had another pair of interceptions and continued to prove quarterbacks foolish for throwing the ball his direction, on his way to Big Ten defensive player of the week honors…

Desmond King: #B1G Co-Defensive Player of the Week after his 2 INT performance during Saturday's victory | #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/bEJfB3j3YB
— Hawkeye Football (@HawkeyeFootball) October 5, 2015

"Your @B1Gfootball co-defensive player of the week? It’s @HawkeyeFootball‘s Desmond King, the #B1G‘s INT leader. http://t.co/uNuAfhBwpx— Iowa on BTN (@IowaOnBTN) October 5, 2015"

King is the first Hawkeye defender since 2010 to have five interceptions in a season, and the first to record two multi-interception games since the late Tyler Sash did it in 2009.

It’s not just that King is making plays this year — he’s been doing it every year he’s been a Hawkeye. Since he was a starter as a true freshman, this guy has been doing it big for Kirk Ferentz and the Iowa defense.

King has a great combination of size, tackling ability, ball skills, and special teams ability that have me wondering if he’s not to be considered among the best cornerbacks that are currently draft eligible. We hear a lot about SEC guys like Vernon Hargreaves, but what about King?

I’ve said it before, but King’s game really reminds me a lot of Chris Harris Jr. with the Denver Broncos. He has the ability to shut down any part of the field, be it outside or in the nickel, and he can play both man and zone. He attacks the football, he’s disciplined, and he knows what to do with the ball in his hands.

This is a really good athlete that’s not being talked about as much as he should be.

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