By DARREN MILLER
hawkeyesports.com
CLEVELAND — University of Iowa senior defensive lineman Chauncey Golston was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round of Friday’s NFL Draft. Golston was the 84th player picked overall.
Golston, a native of Detroit, was named permanent defensive team captain after making 45 tackles (tied for third on the team) with 8 ½ tackles for loss and 5 ½ quarterback sacks. He intercepted a pass and broke up another.
With the 6-foot-5, 270-pound Golston on the defensive line in 2020, the Hawkeyes won six of eight games (including six in a row to conclude the pandemic-shortened season). Iowa allowed an average of 16 points per game (sixth among all FBS programs), 313.8 yards (eighth) and 107.6 yards on the ground (10th).
Golston was a first-team All-Big Ten selection by coaches and media. He earned honorable mention All-America recognition and was a semifinalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy. He started every game the past two seasons and participated for the American Team in the Senior Bowl on Jan. 30.
“(Golston) comes hard and if you lack intensity or you can’t sustain, you’re going to get beat,” said draft analyst Mel Kiper, Jr. “This kid will help (Dallas). I like the pick. You can’t argue with the production, intensity or consistency he played with.”
Iowa has had 14 defensive interior linemen or defensive ends selected during the Kirk Ferentz era. The most recent was A.J. Epenesa, who went in the second round to the Buffalo Bills in 2020.
The Cowboys finished 6-10 last season, tied for second in the NFC East.
Iowa has had at least one player drafted in every NFL Draft since 1978, including 10 first round selections. Golston is the 76th player coached by Ferentz at Iowa to be selected in the NFL Draft.
NFL Draft During Ferentz Era
| 2023 NFL Draft | |||
| Round | |||
| 2022 NFL Draft | |||
| Round 1 | Tyler Linderbaum | Baltimore | Offensive Line |
| Round 4 | Dane Belton | New York Giants | Defensive Back |
| 2021 NFL Draft | |||
| Round 3 | Chauncey Golston | Dallas | Defensive End |
| Round 5 | Ihmir Smith-Marsette | Minnesota | Wide Receiver |
| Round 5 | Daviyon Nixon | Carolina | Defensive Tackle |
| Round 6 | Nick Niemann | Los Angeles Chargers | Linebacker |
| 2020 NFL Draft | |||
| Round 1 (13 overall) | Tristan Wirfs | Tampa Bay | Offensive Tackle |
| Round 2 | A.J. Epenesa | Buffalo | Defensive End |
| Round 3 | Michael Ojemudia | Denver | Defensive Back |
| Round 7 | Geno Stone | Baltimore | Defensive Back |
| Round 7 | Nate Stanley | Minnesota | Quarterback |
| 2019 NFL Draft | |||
| Round 1 (8 overall) | T.J. Hockenson | Detroit | Tight End |
| Round 1 (20) | Noah Fant | Denver | Tight End |
| Round 4 | Anthony Nelson | Tampa Bay | Defensive End |
| Round 4 | Amani Hooker | Tennessee | Defensive Back |
| 2018 NFL Draft | |||
| Round 2 | James Daniels | Chicago | Offensive Line |
| Round 2 | Josh Jackson | Green Bay | Defensive Back |
| Round 4 | Josey Jewell | Denver | Linebacker |
| 2017 NFL Draft | |||
| Round 3 | C.J. Beathard | San Francisco | Quarterback |
| Round 4 | Jaleel Johnson | Minnesota | Defensive Line |
| Round 5 | George Kittle | San Francisco | Tight End |
| Round 5 | Desmond King | Los Angeles Chargers | Defensive Back |
| 2016 NFL Draft | |||
| Round 7 | Austin Blythe | Indianapolis | Offensive Line |
| 2015 NFL Draft | |||
| Round 1 (5 overall) | Brandon Scherff | Washington | Offensive Line |
| Round 3 | Carl Davis | Baltimore | Defensive Line |
| Round 4 | Andrew Donnal | St. Louis | Offensive Line |
| 2014 NFL Draft | |||
| Round 3 | C.J. Fiedorowicz | Houston | Tight End |
| Round 3 | Christian Kirksey | Cleveland | Linebacker |
| Round 4 | Anthony Hitchens | Dallas | Linebacker |
| 2013 NFL Draft | |||
| Round 5 | Micah Hyde | Green Bay | Defensive Back |
| 2012 NFL Draft | |||
| Round 1 (23 overall) | Riley Reiff | Detroit | Offensive Line |
| Round 4 | Mike Daniels | Green Bay | Defensive Line |
| Round 5 | Adam Gettis | Washington | Offensive Line |
| Round 5 | Shaun Prater | Cincinnati | Defensive Back |
| Round 6 | Marvin McNutt, Jr. | Philadelphia | Wide Receiver |
| Round 7 | Jordan Bernstine | Washington | Defensive Back |
| 2011 NFL Draft | |||
| Round 1 (20 overall) | Adrian Clayborn | Tampa Bay | Defensive End |
| Round 4 | Christian Ballard | Minnesota | Defensive Line |
| Round 5 | Ricky Stanzi | Kansas City | Quarterback |
| Round 5 | Karl Klug | Tennessee | Defensive Line |
| Round 5 | Julian Vandervelde | Philadelphia | Offensive Line |
| Round 6 | Tyler Sash | New York Giants | Defensive Back |
| 2010 NFL Draft | |||
| Round 1 (23 overall) | Bryan Bulaga | Green Bay | Offensive Line |
| Round 2 | Pat Angerer | Indianapolis | Linebacker |
| Round 3 | Amari Spievey | Detroit | Defensive Back |
| Round 4 | A.J. Edds | Miami | Linebacker |
| Round 6 | Kyle Calloway | Buffalo | Offensive Line |
| 2009 NFL Draft | |||
| Round 3 | Shonn Greene | New York Jets | Running Back |
| Round 3 | Bradley Fletcher | St. Louis | Defensive Back |
| Round 4 | Seth Olsen | Denver | Offensive Line |
| Round 6 | Brandon Myers | Oakland | Tight End |
| 2008 NFL Draft | |||
| Round 3 | Charles Godfrey | Carolina | Defensive Back |
| Round 4 | Ken Iwebema | Arizona | Defensive End |
| Round 6 | Mike Humpal | Pittsburgh | Linebacker |
| 2007 NFL Draft | |||
| Round 3 | Marshal Yanda | Baltimore | Offensive Line |
| Round 4 | Scott Chandler | San Diego | Tight End |
| Round 7 | Mike Elgin | New England | Offensive Line |
| 2006 NFL Draft | |||
| Round 1 (17 overall) | Chad Greenway | Minnesota | Linebacker |
| Round 3 | Abdul Hodge | Green Bay | Linebacker |
| 2005 NFL Draft | |||
| Round 2 | Matt Roth | Miami | Defensive End |
| Round 2 | Jonathan Babineaux | Atlanta | Defensive Line |
| Round 4 | Sean Considine | Philadelphia | Defensive Back |
| Round 6 | Tony Jackson | Seattle | Tight End |
| Round 6 | Pete McMahon | Oakland | Offensive Line |
| 2004 NFL Draft | |||
| Round 1 (2 overall) | Robert Gallery | Oakland | Offensive Line |
| Round 2 | Bob Sanders | Indianapolis | Defensive Back |
| Round 3 | Nate Kaeding | San Diego | Kicker |
| Round 7 | Jared Clauss | Tennessee | Defensive Line |
| Round 7 | Erik Jensen | St. Louis | Tight End |
| 2003 NFL Draft | |||
| Round 1 (24 overall) | Dallas Clark | Indianapolis | Tight End |
| Round 2 | Eric Steinbach | Cincinnati | Offensive Line |
| Round 2 | Bruce Nelson | Carolina | Center |
| Round 5 | Derek Pagel | New York Jets | Defensive Back |
| Round 5 | Ben Sobieski | Buffalo | Offensive Line |
| 2002 NFL Draft | |||
| Round 2 | Ladell Betts | Washington | Running Back |
| Round 5 | Aaron Kampman | Green Bay | Defensive Line |
| Round 6 | Kahlil Hill | Atlanta | Wide Receiver |
| 2001 NFL Draft | |||
| Round 6 | Kevin Kasper | Denver | Wide Receiver |
| 2000 NFL Draft | |||
| Round 5 | Austin Wheatley | New Orleans | Tight End |
| Round 6 | Matt Bowen | St. Louis | Defensive Back |