IOWA CITY, Iowa – – Former University of Iowa defensive lineman Mitch King will serve as honorary captain Saturday when Iowa hosts Wisconsin at Kinnick Stadium (11:01 a.m., ESPN) Saturday.
King is a native of Burlington, Iowa, who lettered for the Hawkeyes in from 2005-08. He was named Big Ten Conference Defensive Lineman of the Year in his senior season and completed his career with 228 tackles.
King moved from linebacker to defensive line at the start of his Hawkeye career and earned first team Freshman All-America recognition in 2005. He was Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week following Iowa’s 20-10 win at No. 19 Wisconsin that season.
King earned first team All-Big Ten honors as a junior and senior. He was named second team All-America as a senior by the Associated Press, Walter Camp and ESPN.com. King was a team captain and Most Valuable Player as a senior, while also being recognized with the Hayden Fry “Extra Heartbeat” Award.
As a senior in 2008, King played a key role for the Iowa defense as the Hawkeyes posted a 9-4 record. The Hawkeyes won their final three games of the season, including a 24-23 victory over No. 3 Penn State in Kinnick Stadium. He closed his career in the 2009 Outback Bowl as Iowa defeated South Carolina, 31-10.
King was selected to participate in the Senior Bowl following his Iowa career and later played three seasons in the NFL (2009-2011) with Tennessee, Indianapolis and New Orleans.
King will accompany the Iowa captains to the center of the field for Saturday’s pregame coin toss. He will also be with the Hawkeyes in the locker room before and after the game.
