Desmond King returns, now what’s ahead?

On Monday, Desmond King's mom, Yvette Powell, let the world know her son was returning for his senior season as a cornerback at Iowa. Tuesday, it was Desmond's turn.

On his Instagram account, King doubled down.

'Feels good to finish my education and be with my brothers for my senior year,' King wrote. 'There will be those that say my decision is wrong but it's what's best for me. Let's make it a good one fellas.'

A football emoticon followed that.

Wrong decision? You can see that King, who tied an Iowa record this season with eight interceptions, is listed in NFL mock drafts all over the Internet as a potential first-round pick. Anyone can have a mock draft, perhaps the most clickiest of click bait ever spawned on the Internet.

What we don't see is King's desire for a college degree, which is at the forefront of this choice according to Powell. We also don't know what evaluation the NFL College Advisory Committee issued King. These aren't made public, unless the player wants to volunteer it. King won two national defensive back of the year awards (Thorpe and Tatum). He was the Big Ten's defensive back of the year. He was a consensus all-American.

Let's work under the assumption that his draft evaluation was likely positive. King is sitting on a winning hand and believes it will be just as winning next season.

'I think that's the biggest thing about a kid at his level is that he can stay humble,' Iowa defensive coordinator Phil Parker said. 'Right now, I think he has a good head on his shoulders, and I think he'll make the right decision.'

King said during Rose Bowl week that he sought counsel from his family on this choice. He went to Iowa coaches after the bowl.

What's lost in this discussion is the jump King made in his game to make this decision a discussion. That fact wasn't lost with his coaches. King started his career as, admittedly, a true freshman starter thrown into the action in 2013 without knowing anything. His football IQ took an exponential leap this season.

'It's representative of what you hope happens to a player,' Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz said. 'He got thrown in early, probably before he was ready, but he really responded well.

'The next year played solid football a year ago. And year three he's elevated his production, his game, to a whole different level. I think he's still got another step to go, personally. That's been fun to watch. And that's what you hope all your players are doing. It may not be as dramatic as what he did to win a national award like the Thorpe Award. That's exceptional, but you want to see that progress. Anytime that happens that's a great thing.'

King's return gives Iowa a premier cover corner in the Big Ten. It also gives it a corner who's extremely strong in run support. During bowl prep, Parker said he's the perfect player for what Iowa wants to do on defense.

King comes back with a chance to be very much in the discussion for Iowa's best defensive player ever and certainly the most decorated.

Beyond being a member of the UI Varsity Club Hall of Fame, a player must meet one of the following three criteria to be considered for the Kinnick Stadium 'wall of honor:'

— Member of the National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame

— Member of NFF hall and a consensus all-American

— Two-time consensus all-American

King comes back with a chance to have his name alongside Iowa's giants. Nine players have their names on the 'wall of honor.' You know them all. This is heady, heady stuff.

But you see what King wrote on Instagram. He wants to make it a good one for everyone. The stage is now set.

l Comments: (319) 398-8256; marc.morehouse@thegazette.com