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.
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 |