Return of the Desmond King

DES MOINES — Coming off the Rose Bowl field on New Year's Day even the most optimistic Hawkeye fan had to believe that was it for Desmond King's days as a Hawkeye.

King won every award a defensive back could win during his junior season at Iowa. From consensus all-American to all-Big Ten to the Jim Thorpe Award, King collected offseason honors the way he collected a season record-tying eight interceptions during the season.

The odds seemed low that King would be standing in a gray Iowa hoodie with his teeth chattering in a whipping April wind after the Hawkeyes public practice at Valley Stadium.

And yet here King was Friday night. Still a Hawkeye. Still a student at the University of Iowa. And, with freeze warnings all over central Iowa on Friday night, still probably trying to thaw out. But thawing out as a senior cornerback for the Hawkeyes.

'I have no regrets on making that decision,' King said in his first interview since the Rose Bowl. 'I believe it placed my family and me in a better position. It was a tough decision, but I felt like I didn't want to leave the guys I came in here with and the brotherly bond I have with all of the players, I didn't want to leave that.'

Junior Desmond King is going to be a tough act for senior Desmond King to follow. If he can repeat as a consensus all-American, King can earn a spot on the Kinnick Stadium wall of honor (the names and numbers of players on the front of the press box). When the wall was unveiled in 2013, it included nine names, with quarterback Chuck Long and linebacker Larry Station being the latest entries (1982-85).

King didn't know about this one. He wasn't about to call his shot on this two-thirds of the way through spring football.

'I guess that would be another milestone to try to achieve this year,' King said. 'I'm trying to start focusing on the season and whatever I can do to help the team.'

One good thing that will be there for King at the end of the season is a Rolex. As the winner of the Jim Thorpe Award, which goes to the nation's top defensive back, King was given a Rolex watch, the Platinum Yacht-Master valued at $12,350 to be exact.

That is waiting for King. The one stipulation was he had to wait until his eligibility was finished before he's able to take possession.

'It was cool, but I don't have it,' he said with a laugh. 'I have to wait. Maybe I can get another one this year coming up. That's the goal, just to be perfect at what I do and we'll see what happens.'

King's presence already is paying dividends for a young wide receiver corps that gets the opportunity to drill and compete with an all-American.

'We go up against the Jim Thorpe Award winner every day,' wide receiver Matt VandeBerg said. 'It helps us immensely. You're going up against the guy that was proclaimed as the best at his position in the nation. That's pretty awesome to go against him every day.'

Iowa Notes: Josh Jackson flashes potential at corner

The Hawkeyes practiced in front of a few thousand fans early Friday evening. The practice was in helmets, shorts and shells, so it wasn't full contact.

The one big highlight was a long TD pass from Beathard to sophomore wide receiver Jay Scheel. Other than that, the defense stalemated the offense, which was fine with head coach Kirk Ferentz.

'It's never pretty this time of year and that's certainly the case right now,' Ferentz said. 'We have some guys improving. We're anxious to see how things go the next six practices.'

Some news items:

— The NCAA ruled Friday to end camps off of school's campuses. That doesn't affect what has become an annual trip to Des Moines for a practice. Friday's session included on-field autographs with the players and a youth camp that included a couple hundred enthusiastic kids who seemed to have a great time.

'We want the chance to say thanks to the people in this immediate area and western Iowa,' Ferentz said. 'They come to Kinnick very faithfully seven times a year and they've done that for a long, long time and it's a good change-of-pace for our players.'

Iowa athletics director Gary Barta likes the idea of taking a practice to the state's most poplated county.

'It makes sense, real good sense,' Barta said. 'It's been successful. So it makes a lot of sense. We decided to do it this year. It doesn't mean we'll do it every year.'

— There was no news on defensive end Drew Ott's bid for a medical hardship waiver and a fifth year of eligibility. Ott, who's recovering from elbow and ACL surgeries, is waiting for the NCAA to rule with the NFL Draft coming up April 28. Time is just about up on this.

'I'm happy to say this, we're probably one coversation away from at least wrapping this thing up,' Ferentz said. 'I don't know when that conversation is going to take place, but at least we're getting closer and we need to. Drew has got a life he's got to live here, too. This is a big month for him if the ruling doesn't go his way. Hopefully, we'll know here within the week.'

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