Who's your all-time defensive back in Iowa Football history?

Thawki said:
Emlen Tunnell went to Iowa. He held the NFL record for interceptions until Paul Krause broke it. My understanding is that Tunnell didn't play as much at Iowa as he should have due to the fact that he was black and somewhat discriminated against re PT. Perhaps others know more about that than I do on this topic. I don't think his college career makes him the best DB at Iowa, if the college career is the measuring stick.


By the way, Tippett is considered to have been a DE while in college.
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Stolen from Wiki:
"Tunnell first played for the University of Toledo where he suffered a neck injury that was so severe the US Army and US Navy both rejected his attempts to enlist during World War II. He was eventually accepted by the US Coast Guard, and spent two years of service there before returning to play football for the University of Iowa [2] He started at quarterback, halfback and on defense during his two years as a Hawkeye. He led the team in passing in the 1946 season and receiving during the 1947 season.[3] He quit the team before the 1948 season in order to join the New York Giants.[3]"
 
AreWeThereYet said:
Stolen from Wiki:
"Tunnell first played for the University of Toledo where he suffered a neck injury that was so severe the US Army and US Navy both rejected his attempts to enlist during World War II. He was eventually accepted by the US Coast Guard, and spent two years of service there before returning to play football for the University of Iowa [2] He started at quarterback, halfback and on defense during his two years as a Hawkeye. He led the team in passing in the 1946 season and receiving during the 1947 season.[3] He quit the team before the 1948 season in order to join the New York Giants.[3]"
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Craig Clemmons He played on terrible teams in early 70s but I think was a first round choice by the Bears
 
Hawkfnntn said:
It's King, Sanders and Hanks for me. I must admit Hanks playing for my 49ers in the pros helped his cause. He was almost a better pro then he was a Hawk. Moving to FS really helped his career. What I remember about him at Iowa was he blocked multiple kicks. He was fun to watch.
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These are my picks for favorite Def Backs. Krause and Tunnell could be thrown in but I wasn't alive then. I loved me some Bobby Stoops too but I think Hanks, Sanders, and King are the best I've seen in a Hawk uniform.
 
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Hawkfnntn said:
It's King, Sanders and Hanks for me. I must admit Hanks playing for my 49ers in the pros helped his cause. He was almost a better pro then he was a Hawk. Moving to FS really helped his career. What I remember about him at Iowa was he blocked multiple kicks. He was fun to watch.
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I agree with all three of your choices but King has another chapter to write which could push him over the top.
 
I would have to go with Bad Bob Sanders. Maybe he doesn't have the best stats, but for shear impact of his presence on the field. When he came on the field the defense went from being good to intimidating. Desmond King and the rest are great players but they don't have that impact. Those who got to see Bob Sanders play know what I mean. At 5 foot 9 he put a hurting on some people that I haven't seen from any other player. 2002 Michigan game. (i think it was 2002) watch it.
 
AreWeThereYet said:
That was then. The rules have changed.
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It was still cheap regardless of the rules. Not something seen every game. It was designed to cause injury to the head. It was embarrassing even then. It was a far cry different than say Bob Stoops leveling a receiver. A lot of his hits would also be targeting, but it was different. I'm glad the rules changed.

What is different is that a receiver had the choice about making themselves vulnerable v a qb in the grasp and someone targeting the head. Rules weren't needed to know it was wrong. .
 
Sanders. As others have said, even KF, he changed the attitude of the program.

Now if King is a first team AA again and wins the Thorpe award. I think he deserves to be recognized as the greatest defensive player in the history of the program.
 
You young guys need to research Iowa DB Craig Clemons. He was 1st team all big ten and 1st team all american. He then was 1st round draft choice of the Chicago Bears. He was a great player in the early 70's for the Hawks. Also quite a character. Cops clocked him driving 120 mph and coach had to get him out of jail. Never made the papers back then. He lived in a trailer in North Liberty and used to smoke weed with a guy I knew who was a neighbor of his.
Another great DB in the 70's for the Hawks was Earl Douthit.
 
Golden said:
Great response on the linebacker crew, although missed Andre Tippett, who was an absolute beast. Now, on to the defensive backs. Names like Krause, Sanders, Hanks, King and Kinnick or someone else. Who is your all-time favorite?
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Tommy Knight

Damien Robinson

Devon Mitchel
 
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DSHAWKFAN said:
You young guys need to research Iowa DB Craig Clemons. He was 1st team all big ten and 1st team all american. He then was 1st round draft choice of the Chicago Bears. He was a great player in the early 70's for the Hawks. Also quite a character. Cops clocked him driving 120 mph and coach had to get him out of jail. Never made the papers back then. He lived in a trailer in North Liberty and used to smoke weed with a guy I knew who was a neighbor of his.
Another great DB in the 70's for the Hawks was Earl Douthit.
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I actually know Craig. Good guy. Looked like he could still play in a over 40 league last time I saw him about 10 years ago.
 
I think people are focusing too much on what players did as pros compared to college, especially with guys like Krause and Tunnell.

My vote would be either Kinnick, who got a lot of picks in an era where there weren't too many passes thrown (and he won the Heisman, so there's THAT), or Bob Sanders, who changed the entire CULTURE of Iowa FB when he began playing full time. Sanders changed entire games with his play--think Minnesota in 2003--and when he was injured and couldn't play, boy was it obvious he wasn't there.

I loved Clemons, who was a great DB on bad teams, and also guys like Desmond King, and Tyler Sash, and Spievay, and Devon Mitchell, and Tom Knight, and so many others who were tremendous players. But none of them held an entire unit together all season long the way Kinnick and Sanders did for their Iowa teams. King still has a year left, and if he continues to do what he's done so far, he'll be right up there with Kinnick and Sanders, too. He's only a tick behind at this point.
 
Golden said:
Great response on the linebacker crew, although missed Andre Tippett, who was an absolute beast. Now, on to the defensive backs. Names like Krause, Sanders, Hanks, King and Kinnick or someone else. Who is your all-time favorite?
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Tippet did NOT play LB at Iowa. He lined up at DE. With his hand on the ground.
 
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