Iowa Hawkeyes CB Desmond King back for more

Iowa Hawkeyes cornerback Desmond King, the reigning Jim Thorpe award recipient, is primed for greatness yet again in his senior season…

Iowa Hawkeyes cornerback Desmond King, who won the Jim Thorpe award last year as the nation’s top defensive back, provided no shortage of surprises last season, including announcing his return for a senior season.

King was looking millions of dollars in the face. He was a likely first or second round pick after a monster year that included 72 tackles, eight interceptions, 13 pass breakups, and 949 total yards on kickoff and punt returns.

It was an amazing season for King, who helped get the Hawkeyes on the brink of the CFB playoff and into the Big Ten championship game against Michigan State, where they lost in heart-breaking fashion.

Now a senior, King is the clear leader of this Hawkeyes defense and a player who will have the eyes of every NFL scout on him all year long. People will continually second guess his decision to come back for another year, but King made it a priority to be a college graduate, and he’s going to finish out his career with the Hawkeyes before making the transition to the next level.

Part of King’s wanting to come back involves a promise he made to his mother after the tragic death of his brother when King was just 17. Thrust into a tragic situation like that, King responded in an incredible way, and feels like he’s a role model to his other siblings. Finishing college is something he feels like he needs to do to set the example for his family members around him.

Being the first Jim Thorpe award winner to ever return to school, I’d say he’s setting some kind of example.

King might not top his eight interceptions of a year ago, but that doesn’t mean he won’t be a better, more dominant player. He is already physical by nature, drawing comparisons to Denver Broncos cornerback Chris Harris Jr. for his ability to play against the run so well. He has phenomenal ball skills and instincts in coverage, and is constantly around the ball.

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The most underrated aspect of King’s game is his ability to play special teams, where he’s been a stellar return man for the Hawkeyes in his career.

King knows what to do with the ball in his hands, and he knows how to get his hands on it. He’s got good size, and can make life incredibly difficult on opposing quarterbacks.

What more could you want in a cornerback?

This player is the real deal, and you don’t often get to see them for four years in college. King is a throwback, and it’ll be a real treat to see him playing for the Hawkeyes for another season.

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