Smith-Marsette Selected by Vikings in 5th Round of NFL Draft

Smith-Marsette Selected by Vikings in 5th Round of NFL Draft

by Darren Miller

CLEVELAND — University of Iowa wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the fifth round of Saturday’s NFL Draft. Smith-Marsette was the 157th player picked overall. He is the fourth wide receiver selected in the Kirk Ferentz era and first since Marvin McNutt, Jr. in 2012.

Smith-Marsette (6-foot-1, 179-pounds) is a native of Newark, NJ. He had 20 career starts and excelled on special teams as well as at wide receiver. Smith-Marsette earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors from league coaches and media in 2020, for both offense and special teams.

Smith-Marsette recorded 25 receptions for 345 yards and four touchdowns in eight games in 2020, leading the team in receiving yards and touchdown receptions. He also averaged 22 yards on eight kickoff returns.

Smith-Marsette averaged 28.7 yards on 53 career kickoff returns, a figure that ranks second all-time in the Big Ten Conference. His career totals include 1,520 kickoff return yards, 1,615 receiving yards (110 receptions, 14 TDs), and 274 rushing yards. He ranks 10th in program history with 3,409 career all-purpose yards.

Smith-Marsette led the Big Ten in kickoff returns in both 2018 and 2019, ranking second in the nation in 2018 and fourth nationally the following season. He recorded four career touchdowns on kickoff returns, including three as a junior in 2019.

Smith-Marsette was the offensive MVP of the 2019 Holiday Bowl as Iowa defeated Southern California, 49-24. In 2018 he was named the Rodgers-Dwight Return Specialist of the Year in the Big Ten and was named first-team All-Big Ten return specialist.

The Minnesota Vikings were 7-9 last season and finished third in the NFC North. Smith-Marsette joins former Hawkeye quarterback Nate Stanley, who was drafted in the seventh round of last year’s draft in the seventh round.

Iowa has had at least one player drafted in every NFL Draft since 1978, including 10 first round selections. Smith-Marsette is the 77th player coached by Kirk Ferentz at the University of Iowa to be selected in the NFL Draft.

To read the University of Iowa’s NFL Draft Central Page, click HERE.

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NFL Draft During Ferentz Era

2023 NFL Draft
Round
2022 NFL Draft
Round 1Tyler LinderbaumBaltimoreOffensive Line
Round 4Dane BeltonNew York GiantsDefensive Back
2021 NFL Draft
Round 3Chauncey GolstonDallasDefensive End
Round 5Ihmir Smith-MarsetteMinnesotaWide Receiver
Round 5Daviyon NixonCarolinaDefensive Tackle
Round 6 Nick NiemannLos Angeles ChargersLinebacker
2020 NFL Draft
Round 1 (13 overall)Tristan WirfsTampa BayOffensive Tackle
Round 2A.J. EpenesaBuffaloDefensive End
Round 3Michael OjemudiaDenverDefensive Back
Round 7Geno StoneBaltimoreDefensive Back
Round 7Nate StanleyMinnesotaQuarterback
2019 NFL Draft
Round 1 (8 overall)T.J. HockensonDetroitTight End
Round 1 (20)Noah FantDenverTight End
Round 4Anthony NelsonTampa BayDefensive End
Round 4Amani HookerTennessee Defensive Back
2018 NFL Draft
Round 2James DanielsChicagoOffensive Line
Round 2Josh JacksonGreen BayDefensive Back
Round 4Josey JewellDenverLinebacker
2017 NFL Draft
Round 3C.J. BeathardSan FranciscoQuarterback
Round 4Jaleel JohnsonMinnesotaDefensive Line
Round 5George KittleSan FranciscoTight End
Round 5Desmond KingLos Angeles ChargersDefensive Back
2016 NFL Draft
Round 7Austin BlytheIndianapolisOffensive Line
2015 NFL Draft
Round 1 (5 overall)Brandon ScherffWashingtonOffensive Line
Round 3Carl DavisBaltimoreDefensive Line
Round 4Andrew DonnalSt. LouisOffensive Line
2014 NFL Draft
Round 3C.J. FiedorowiczHoustonTight End
Round 3Christian KirkseyClevelandLinebacker
Round 4Anthony HitchensDallasLinebacker
2013 NFL Draft
Round 5Micah HydeGreen BayDefensive Back
2012 NFL Draft
Round 1 (23 overall)Riley ReiffDetroitOffensive Line
Round 4Mike DanielsGreen BayDefensive Line
Round 5Adam GettisWashingtonOffensive Line
Round 5Shaun PraterCincinnatiDefensive Back
Round 6Marvin McNutt, Jr.PhiladelphiaWide Receiver
Round 7Jordan BernstineWashingtonDefensive Back
2011 NFL Draft
Round 1 (20 overall)Adrian ClaybornTampa BayDefensive End
Round 4Christian BallardMinnesotaDefensive Line
Round 5Ricky StanziKansas CityQuarterback
Round 5Karl KlugTennesseeDefensive Line
Round 5Julian VanderveldePhiladelphiaOffensive Line
Round 6Tyler SashNew York GiantsDefensive Back
2010 NFL Draft
Round 1 (23 overall)Bryan BulagaGreen BayOffensive Line
Round 2Pat AngererIndianapolisLinebacker
Round 3Amari SpieveyDetroitDefensive Back
Round 4A.J. EddsMiamiLinebacker
Round 6Kyle CallowayBuffaloOffensive Line
2009 NFL Draft
Round 3Shonn GreeneNew York JetsRunning Back
Round 3Bradley FletcherSt. LouisDefensive Back
Round 4Seth OlsenDenverOffensive Line
Round 6Brandon MyersOaklandTight End
2008 NFL Draft
Round 3Charles GodfreyCarolinaDefensive Back
Round 4Ken IwebemaArizonaDefensive End
Round 6Mike HumpalPittsburghLinebacker
2007 NFL Draft
Round 3Marshal YandaBaltimoreOffensive Line
Round 4Scott ChandlerSan DiegoTight End
Round 7Mike ElginNew EnglandOffensive Line
2006 NFL Draft
Round 1 (17 overall)Chad GreenwayMinnesotaLinebacker
Round 3Abdul HodgeGreen BayLinebacker
2005 NFL Draft
Round 2Matt RothMiamiDefensive End
Round 2Jonathan BabineauxAtlantaDefensive Line
Round 4Sean ConsidinePhiladelphiaDefensive Back
Round 6Tony JacksonSeattleTight End
Round 6Pete McMahonOaklandOffensive Line
2004 NFL Draft
Round 1 (2 overall)Robert GalleryOaklandOffensive Line
Round 2Bob SandersIndianapolisDefensive Back
Round 3Nate KaedingSan DiegoKicker
Round 7Jared ClaussTennesseeDefensive Line
Round 7Erik JensenSt. LouisTight End
2003 NFL Draft
Round 1 (24 overall)Dallas ClarkIndianapolisTight End
Round 2Eric SteinbachCincinnatiOffensive Line
Round 2Bruce NelsonCarolinaCenter
Round 5Derek PagelNew York JetsDefensive Back
Round 5Ben SobieskiBuffaloOffensive Line
2002 NFL Draft
Round 2Ladell BettsWashingtonRunning Back
Round 5Aaron KampmanGreen BayDefensive Line
Round 6Kahlil HillAtlantaWide Receiver
2001 NFL Draft
Round 6Kevin KasperDenverWide Receiver
2000 NFL Draft
Round 5Austin WheatleyNew OrleansTight End
Round 6Matt BowenSt. LouisDefensive Back