Cincinnati picks Iowa CB Shaun Prater

Shaun Prater extended a streak of Iowa defensive backs in the NFL draft to five after he was picked by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fifth round Friday night.

Prater heads to a team that has several journeymen at cornerback, including Terrance Newman, Nate Clements and Adam "Pac-Man" Jones. The Bengals drafted Alabama cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick in the first round.

"He's been making plays in that secondary since his freshman year," ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said. "He a bid junior season with four picks.

"He forced four fumbles this past season, picked off one pass. He had seven interceptions over the past three years in that Iowa Hawkeye defensive secondary."

Prater, an Omaha, Neb., native, started 35 games for Iowa and was named a first-team all-Big Ten cornerback by the league's coaches. Prater had seven interceptions at Iowa for 173 return yards and two touchdowns. He had 19 pass breakups and recorded 173 tackles at Iowa.

Prater (5-10 1/4, 192 pounds) follows former teammates Tyler Sash (6th round, 2011, New York Giants), Amari Spievey (3rd round, 2010, Detroit Lions), Bradley Fletcher (3rd round, 2009, St. Louis Rams) and Charles Godfrey (3rd round, 2007, Carolina Panthers) who were selected in the last four drafts.

"We'd go up against each other every day in practice and fight probably every day in practice," Iowa wide receiver Marvin McNutt said. "He's probably the best (McNutt faced)."