University of Iowa Athletics
Desmond King - Football - University of Iowa Athletics

#14 Desmond King

Position DB
Height 5-11
Weight 190 lbs.
Class Fr.
Hometown Detroit, Mich.
High School East English Village

Hawk Item – – Only Big Ten player in last 20 seasons with 12 or more career interceptions and over 1,500 combined kickoff and punt return yards . . . holds school records for career starts (51) and career games played (53) . . . one of two players in school history with three interception returns for touchdowns . . . tied for fourth with 14 career interceptions . . . 231 yards in career interception return yards ranks third-best alltime . . . ranks 27th in career tackles with 263 . . . one of nine seniors named to 2016 Leadership Group . . . tied Iowa single-season record with eight interceptions (Lou King, 1981 and Nile Kinnick, 1939) in 2015 . . . ranked second in the nation with eight interceptions, including two each in wins over Pitt and Wisconsin . . . 88-yard interception return for a touchdown vs. Maryland ties as seventh longest in school history . . . tied for ninth in the Big Ten with three interceptions in 2014 . . . one of four true freshmen to see action in 2013 . . . started at cornerback in win over Missouri State in 2013, becoming first true freshman to start in defensive secondary since 2002 . . . 69 tackles were most by a Big Ten freshman in 2013 . . . tied for team lead with three interceptions in 2014.

2016 Honors – – First team All-America by USA Today, SI.com, Pro Football Focus, Athlon Sports, and College Sports Madness . . . second team All-America by Walter Camp Foundation, Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America, Phil Steele, and SB Nation . . . Permanent Team Captain, offense . . . Hayden Fry Award, defense . . . Reggie Roby Special Teams Award, specialist . . . first team All-Big Ten by Associated Press . . . First team All-Big Ten by Big Ten coaches and media, Athlon Sports (defensive back), Phil Steele (defensive back and kickoff returns . . . second team All-Big Ten by Athlon Sports (punt returns) . . . Second team All-Big Ten return specialist by Big Ten coaches and media . . . third team All-Big Ten by Phil Steele (punt returns) . . . semifinalist for Lott IMPACT Trophy . . . semifinalist for Jim Thorpe Award . . . semifinalist for Bednarik Award . . . 2016 Preseason Honors – – Named to Big Ten West Division Player to Watch List . . . named to preseason Watch List for Lott IMPACT Trophy, Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, Bednarik Award, Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Jim Thorpe Award, and Paul Horning Award . . . named preseason first team All-America by USA Today, Athlon Sports, College Sports Madness, and footballgameplan.com . . . named preseason first team All-Big Ten by Athlon Sports, and College Football Madness . . . 2016 – – Started all 13 games at cornerback . . . recorded 42 solo tackles and 16 assists, with 3.5 tackles for loss . . . shared team lead with three interceptions and ranked second with seven pass break-ups . . . averaged 10.2 yards on 26 punt returns and 27.8 yards on 27 KO returns . . . started at cornerback in 45-21 win over Miami . . . recorded five tackles, including four solo stops . . . also had two KO returns for 70 yards, with a long of 48 yards, and one punt return for 15 yards . . . started at cornerback in 42-3 win over Iowa State as defense allowed just 291 yards total offense . . . recorded four solo tackles vs. ISU, along with one KO return for 34 yards and 20 yards on three punt returns . . . started at cornerback in 23-21 loss to North Dakota State . . . recorded six tackles vs. NDSU, including two solo stops and four assists . . . also had forced fumble and a shared tackle for loss vs. NDSU, along with three KO returns for 61 yards . . . started at cornerback in 14-7 win at Rutgers as defense allowed just one touchdown . . . recorded one solo tackle and three assists at Rutgers, along with two pass break-ups . . . had touchdown saving tackle to keep Rutgers from scoring in first half . . . also had a 45-yard KO return . . . started at cornerback in 38-31 loss to Northwestern . . . recorded three solo tackles and one assist vs. Northwestern, along with two pass break-ups . . . career day on special teams vs. Northwestern, with 77 yards on four punt returns and 85 yards on three KO returns, including a long punt return of 32 yards and a long KO return of 37 yards . . . started at cornerback in 14-7 win at Minnesota as defense allowed just 102 net rushing yards and 268 yards total offense . . . recorded two solo tackles, including one for loss, at Minnesota, along with one pass break-up . . . also had seven punts returns for 59 yards, with a long of 22 yards, and two KO returns for 48 yards . . . started at cornerback in 49-35 win at Purdue as defense allowed just 47 net rushing yards . . . first interception of the season at Purdue, which he returned 41 yards for a touchdown, his third career pick-six . . . also had three solo tackles and one asisst, along with one pass break-up . . . also had one KO return for 28 yards and two punt returns for 11 yards . . . started at cornerback in 17-9 loss to #10 Wisconsin . . . matched career-best with 12 tackles vs. Wisconsin, including seven solo stops and five assists . . . recovered a fumble in the endzone to stop a scoring threat . . . career-long 77-yard KO return in fourth quarter led to Iowa field goal . . . started at cornerback in 41-14 loss at #12 Penn State, recording four solo tackles . . . also had 78 yards on four kickoff returns . . . started at cornerback in 14-13 win over #2 Michigan as defense allowed just 201 yards total offense . . . six tackles vs. Michigan, including five solo stops and one assist, and one tackle for loss and a pass break-up . . . also had three punt returns for 17 yards and four kickoff returns for 74 yards . . . started at cornerback in 28-0 win at Illinois, recording one solo tackle and a pass interception as defense allowed just 61 net rushing yards and 198 yards total offense . . . started at cornerback in 40-10 win over #15 Nebraska, recording one solo tackle as defense allowed just 90 net rushing yards and 217 yards total offense . . . had two punt returns for 44 yards, including a career-long 44-yard return to set up third quarter touchdown . . . also had three KO returns for 80 yards . . . started at cornerback in 30-3 Outback Bowl loss to #17 Florida . . . interception in first quarter led to Iowa field goal . . . recorded five solo tackles vs. Florida, with one tackle for loss . . . also had one punt return for 19 yards and two kickoff returns for 70 yards, with a long of 45 yards.

2015 Honors – – Unanimous Consensus All-American . . . recipient of Jim Thorpe Award . . . one of five finalists for Walter Camp Player of the Year . . . recipient of the Jack Tatum Award, presented by the Touchdown Club of Columbus, to the best defensive back in college football . . . named Tatum-Woodson Big Ten Conference Defensive Back of the Year . . . Most Valuable Player, defense . . . Reggie Roby Special Teams Award, overall . . . first team All-America by Walter Camp, Associated Press, AFCA, FWAA, Sporting News, USA Today, SI.com, ESPN.com, Athlon Sports, ProFootballFocus.com, Phil Steele, and College Sports Madness . . . first team All-Big Ten by league coaches and media, including unanimous selection by media . . . first team All-Big Ten by Associated Press and Phil Steele . . . also earned honorable mention honors as return specialist by both coaches and media . . . Jim Thorpe national Defensive Player of the Week vs. Wisconsin . . . Big Ten Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Week following 10-6 win at Wisconsin . . . 2015 Preseason Honors – – Preseason third team All-Big Ten by Phil Steele . . . preseason fourth team All-Big Ten by Athlon Sports . . . 2015 – – Started all 14 games at cornerback . . . recorded 72 tackles, including 46 solo stops and 26 assists . . . eight interceptions for 118 yards and one touchdown . . . led team with 13 pass break-ups . . . also handled majority of punt returns and KO returns, averaging 14.2 yards on 17 punt returns and 24.4 yards on 29 KO returns . . . started at cornerback in 31-14 win over Illinois State, recording two solo tackles as defense allowed 35 net rushing yards and 231 yards total offense . . . handled all returns vs. Illinois State, with two punt returns for 26 yards and one KO return for 19 yards . . . started at cornerback in 31-17 win at Iowa State as defense allowed no points and just 66 yards total offense in the second half . . . recorded four solo tackles and one assist at ISU, along with one pass break-up and one interception for 11 yards to set up final touchdown of the game . . . also had 34 yards on two punt returns, including 34-yard return that led to go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter, and two KO returns for 29 yards . . . started at cornerback in 27-24 win over Pitt as defense allowed just 55 net rushing yards and 282 yards total offense . . . recorded two interceptions against Pitt, one of those coming in the endzone . . . also had four solo tackles and four assists, including a tackle for loss . . . had two KO returns for 48 yards, including a 27-yard return in final minute that led to game-winning field goal . . . started at cornerback in 62-16 win over North Texas, recording five solo tackles and one pass break-up . . . had two punt returns for 71 yards, with a long of 38 yards, and four KO returns for 109 yards, with a long of 40 yards, vs. North Texas . . . started at cornerback in 10-6 win at Wisconsin as defense allowed no touchdowns and just 320 yards total offense . . . two interceptions at Wisconsin, along with five solo tackles and four assists, in addition to two pass break-ups . . . also had three KO returns for 65 yards . . . started at cornerback in 29-20 win over Illinois as defense allowed just 46 net rushing yards . . . recorded two solo tackles and one pass break-up vs. Illinois, with three punt returns for 26 yards . . . started at cornerback in 40-10 win at Northwestern as defense allowed just 51 net rushing yards and 198 yards total offense . . . one pass interception and two pass break-ups at Northwestern, with first quarter theft leading to the first points of the game . . . started at cornerback in 31-15 win over Maryland . . . recorded two solo stops and three assists vs. Maryland, along with interception and 88-yard touchdown return for first score of the season and second of career . . . also had one KO return for 23 yards . . . started at cornerback in 35-27 win at Indiana . . . tied single-season record with eighth interception of the season, while also collecting one solo tackle and one assist . . . also recorded three KO returns for 84 yards . . . started at cornerback in 40-35 win over Minnesota . . . five tackles vs. Minnesota, including two solo stops and three assists . . . also had two KO returns for 74 yards, including a career-long of 58 yards, and one punt return for 10 yards . . . started at cornerback in 40-20 win over Purdue . . . 10 solo tackles and one assist vs. Purdue, along with three pass break-ups . . . also had two KO returns for 61yards . . . saw action in 28-20 win at Nebraska . . . seven tackles at Nebraska, with two solo stops and five assists, to go with one pass break-up . . . also had two punt returns for 34 yards, with a long of 26 yards that led to Iowa touchdown . . . started at cornerback in 16-13 loss to Michigan State . . . recorded six tackles vs. MSU, including four solo stops and two assists, along with one pass break-up . . . also had two KO returns for 52 yards . . . started at cornerback in 45-16 Rose Bowl loss to Stanford . . . recorded five tackles, including three solo tackles and two assists vs. Stanford, with one pass break-up . . . also had one punt return for 38 yards and seven KO returns for 144 yards.

2014 Honors – – Honorable mention All-Big Ten by league media . . . mid-season first team All-Big Ten by ESPN.com and Phil Steele . . . 2014 Preseason Honors – – Preseason third team All-Big Ten by Athlon Sports and College Sports Madness . . . preseason fourth team All-Big Ten by Phil Steele . . . 2014 – – Started all 13 games . . . recorded 64 tackles, including 42 solo stops and 22 assists . . . shared team lead with three interceptions for 72 yards and one touchdown . . . also had five pass break-ups and two tackles for loss . . . started at cornerback in 31-23 win over Northern Iowa . . . recorded three solo tackles and two assists vs. UNI, with one pass break-up . . . started at cornerback in 17-13 win over Ball State as defense allowed just two field goals and 219 yards total offense . . . recored three tackles vs. BSU, including two solo stops and one assist . . . started at cornerback in 20-17 loss to Iowa State, recording three solo tackles and two assists . . . started at cornerback in 24-20 win at Pittsburgh as defense allowed just three points in the second half . . . recorded two solo tackles and two assists at Pitt, including one solo tackle for loss . . . started at cornerback in 24-10 win at Purdue as defense allowed just 156 yards total offense . . . recorded three solo stops and two assists at Purdue . . . started at cornerback in 45-29 win over Indiana . . . recorded first career interception vs. Indiana, returning theft 35 yards for a touchdown . . . also recorded six solo tackles, one assist and a pass break-up . . . started at cornerback in 38-31 loss at Maryland . . . recorded five solo tackles and two assists at Maryland . . . started at cornerback in 48-7 win over Northwestern, recording one solo tackle, one assist and one pass break-up as defense allowed just 180 yards total offense . . . started at cornerback in loss at Minnesota . . . recorded six tackles at Minnesota, including five solo tackles and one assist . . . started at cornerback in 30-14 win at Illinois, recording two solo tackles and one pass break-up as defense allowed just 88 net rushing yards and 235 yards total offense . . . started at cornerback in 26-24 loss to No. 14 Wisconsin, recording two solo tackles and two assists . . . started at cornerback in 37-34 overtime loss to Nebraska . . . recorded two solo tackles and two assists vs. Nebraska, while also collecting second interception of the season and one pass break-up . . . started at cornerback in TaxSlayer Bowl loss to Tennessee . . . recorded 10 tackles vs. Tennessee, including six solo stops and four assists . . . collected third interception of the season, with a 37-yard return, and had one tackle for loss.

2013 Honors – – Next Man In Award, Defense . . . third team Freshman All-America by Athlon Sports . . . first team Freshman All-Big Ten by BTN.com . . . named Big Ten Conference Freshman of the Week for his play at Ohio State . . . 2013 – – Saw action in all 13 games, with 12 starts . . . recorded 44 solo tackles and 25 assists, including three tackles for loss . . . collected eight pass break-ups and two recovered fumbles . . . saw action in 30-27 loss to Northern Illinois, recording two solo tackles, two assists and one pass break-up . . . started at cornerback in 28-14 win over Missouri State as defense allowed just 197 yards total offense . . . recorded one solo tackle and two assists vs. Missouri State, along with first fumble recovery of career . . . started at cornerback in 27-21 win at Iowa State as defense allowed just 59 net rushing yards . . . recorded four solo tackles and two assists at ISU, including one tackle for loss and one pass break-up . . . started at cornerback in 59-3 win over Western Michigan, recording one assisted tackle and one pass break-up as defense allowed just 209 yards total offense . . . started at cornerback in 23-7 win at Minnesota as defense allowed just 165 yards total offense and 30 net rushing yards . . . recorded two solo tackles and two assists at Minnesota, including a shared tackle for loss . . . started at cornerback in 26-14 loss to Michigan State . . . career-high 11 tackles vs. MSU, including seven solo stops and four assists, along with one QB pressure . . . started at cornerback in 34-24 loss at Ohio State . . . season-high 12 tackles at OSU, including 10 solo stops and two assists . . . started at cornerback in 17-10 OT win over Northwestern . . . recorded two assisted tackles vs. Northwestern and was involved in two big plays late in the game, recovering a Northwestern fumble in Iowa territory with less than four minutes remaining in regulation, then causing a pass break-up in overtime as Iowa held the Wildcats without a first down to secure the win . . . started at cornerback in 28-9 loss to Wisconsin, recording six solo tackles and one assist . . . started at cornerback in 38-14 win at Purdue, recording one solo tackle and one assist as defense allowed just 53 net rushing yards . . . started at cornerback in 24-21 win over Michigan as defense allowed just 60 net rushing yards and 158 yards total offense . . . recorded three assisted tackles vs. Michigan, including a shared tackle for loss, and had two pass break-ups . . . started at cornerback in 38-17 win at Nebraska as defense allowed just 89 net rushing yards . . . recorded eight tackles at Nebraska, including six solo stops and two assists, along with one pass break-up . . . started at cornerback in 21-14 Outback Bowl loss to LSU as defense allowed just 82 passing yards . . . recorded five solo tackles and one assist vs. LSU, including one tackle for loss and one pass break-up.

High school honors – – Earned first team all-state honors . . . also first team all-city and named to Dream Team as a senior . . . first team all-state and all-city as a junior . . . first team all-city and second team all-state as a sophomore . . . Career – – Established Michigan high school record with 29 career interceptions . . . set school record for career rushing yards . . . rushed for 2,360 yards and scored 33 touchdowns as a senior . . . recorded 56 tackles and seven interceptions as a senior . . . rushed for 1,610 yards and 12 touchdowns as a junior, with 49 tackles and 12 interceptions on defense . . . rushed for 811 yards and nine touchdowns as a sophomore, with 44 tackles and 10 interceptions on defense . . . team captain as junior and senior . . . competed on three teams that advanced to state playoffs, including regional championship as a senior . . . helped prep team post three-year record of 32-6 . . . four-year letterman in track, competing in sprint events and relays.

Personal – – Born 12/14/94 . . . African American Studies major . . . member of prep Honor Roll and Principal’s List . . .. . . mother is Yvette Powell . . . one of two players from Detroit on the Iowa roster . . . high school coach was Rod Oden.