King earns consensus All-American status

IOWA CITY — His coach thought he'd be a pretty good safety for the Hawkeyes. That was Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz with a little bit of self-deprecation on the subject of the day.

Wednesday, junior cornerback Desmond King was named to the American Football Coaches Association first-team all-America. The AFCA All-America team is the fifth and final honor squad that is used in naming consensus all-Americans. King has been named first team by all five outlets (Walter Camp, Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America, Sporting News, and AFCA).

So, when the consensus all-American team comes out Thursday, King will be the 23rd Hawkeye to earn those honors. As was the case a year ago with offensive tackle Brandon Scherff, King is a unanimous consensus selection, becoming the sixth Hawkeye to earn consensus all-America honors as a junior (Calvin Jones, Reggie Roby, Larry Station, Dallas Clark, Shonn Greene). Jones and Station are the only Iowa players to earn consensus recognition twice.

King, who led the Big Ten with a school record-tying eight interceptions, has also earned first team all-America recognition by ESPN.com, USA Today, SI.com, and College Sports Madness.

Ferentz remembered his first glance at King during recruiting. Defensive coordinator Phil Parker first discovered King on recruiting trips to Detroit. King snared a Michigan prep record 29 interceptions at East English Village High School.

'It's kind of a vintage Phil Parker recruiting story,' Ferentz said. 'He had Desmond in the back of his mind and really kind of played it low with us.

'I think the first time I saw him on tape was in January. So, the astute judge of talent I was, I thought he'd be a pretty good safety. Then next fall, he's playing corner for us as a true freshman. That's why Phil's in charge of evaluating the defensive backs.'

King won the Jim Thorpe Award, which goes to the top defensive back in the nation, and earned the Jack Tatum Award from the Touchdown Club of Columbus (Ohio). King was earlier named the Tatum-Woodson Big Ten Conference Defensive Back of the Year and was a first team All-Big Ten selection. King was also one of five finalists for the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award.

Ferentz compared King to former Hawkeye Micah Hyde, a late find by Parker on the recruiting trail who's now in his third season with the Green Bay Packers.

'He [Parker] had Micah tucked away a little bit and then brought him up in January and ended up offering him,' Ferentz said. 'Micah was committed to a MAC [Mid-American Conference] school at that point. Micah came in and played four years and still is playing for the Packers. Desmond is the same story. Phil had a real feeling for him. So, when it came time, we offered Desmond and we were very fortunate to get him.'

King is the first Hawkeye defensive back to earn first team all-America honors since Merton Hanks in 1990. He is the 14th Hawkeye to earn first-team honors under Ferentz and he is the eighth Hawkeye under Ferentz to earn consensus recognition.

'The big difference right now compared to a year ago is he's letting his experience really work for him,' Ferentz said. 'He knows better now how to study film and get ready for a game. It helps make you a better football player.'

King (5-11, 200 pounds), is second in the nation with eight interceptions. He has multiple interceptions in two games, with two picks in wins over Pittsburgh and Wisconsin. He is the first Hawkeye with multiple multi-interception games in a season since Tyler Sash in 2009.

King's eight interceptions tie the Iowa single-season record, a mark previously reached by Heisman Trophy winner Nile Kinnick (1939) and Lou King (1981). His seventh interception of the season was returned 88 yards for a touchdown in a win over Maryland, the second touchdown return of his career (Indiana 2014).

King has recorded 67 tackles, with one tackle for loss, and 12 pass breakups to go with his eight interceptions. King also handled kick returns (25.6 yards per return) and punt returns (12.7) throughout the season.

'Micah was a very good return guy for us and still is doing it for the Packers,' Ferentz said. 'They were overlooked in recruiting. I'm not sure they're combine guys, if you will, otherwise Micah would've been a higher pick (Hyde went in the fifth round).'

Will King return for his senior season at Iowa? During the ESPN awards show in Atlanta, King told ESPN reporter Joe Schad that he was leaning toward a return to Iowa City. After the Big Ten title game on Dec. 5, King said, 'Season's not over for me. When the time comes, I'll let everyone know.'

Let's say, as @Hawkeyegamefilm projects, King is a top 30 pick in the NFL draft. Last season, Packers cornerback Damarious Randall was the 30th pick. He signed a four-year deal that is worth nearly $8 million over the length of the contract. Of that total, $6,401,310 is guaranteed against skill and injury. That also included a $4,016,892 signing bonus, according to NFL Players Association salary data.

The deadline to apply for early entry into the NFL draft is Jan. 18, 2016.

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