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

Golden

Golden

Well-Known Member
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?
 
Bob Stoops. Not sure what I think of him as a coach, but boy could he hit. One of the guys who helped turn things around.
 
I figured Sanders would be the most popular but I think I have to go with Desmond King.

You can't throw at him but I think his best attribute may be his tackling and run defense.
 
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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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.

If I were to make my pick for the best, I would go with Sanders. I have watched probably every Iowa game since Hayden Came to Iowa and I believe he is the best during that time. Des King might overtake him after this year, but he has only played three years so far so I give the nod to Sanders, for now. Personally, based upon what I have heard, I feel like the best DB in Iowa history played since 1979, though obviously a case can be made for Krause, too.

By the way, Tippett is considered to have been a DE while in college.
 
My main negative on Sanders was that he was a head hunter at times. Especially Wisconsin quarterbacks.
 
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.
 
Throw in Merton Hanks who played mostly corner at Iowa, maybe some safety and was a great NFL safety. Was he on the field at the same time as Ronnie Lott, if so what a tandem
 
Sanders and King are probalby the best from the ones I've seen. My favorite to watch was Merton Hanks. I was a fan of the chicken neck.
 
Here is a sort of sideways look...Bobby Jeter. Yes, he was a running back at Iowa. Held the record for the longest run from scrimmage in the Rose Bowl for a lot of years, 81 yards. But, he is in the Green Bay Packer Hall of Fame as a defensive back. And, he was a beauty.
 
cecilB said:
Bob Sanders. No one changed the course and attitude of the program like he did.
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That's exactly what I was thinking. Nothing symbolized the turn around under Ferentz more than when Iowa inserted Bob Sanders into the starting lineup as a freshman. Ferentz was 2-18 in his first 20 games and his seat was getting hot. Suddenly the defense was keeping Iowa in close games, and they started to even win some games and by the time Sanders was a junior, Iowa was in the Orange Bowl. An amazing turn around and Sanders was the key.

A honorable mention for Merton Hanks. Is it sad that the main thing I remember about my Race and Ethnic Relations class my Senior year at Iowa, was that Merton Hanks was in that same class?

And oh yeah that Nile Kininick guy was not bad either.

But for me this is the most obvious answer of all the positions. It has got be Bob Sanders.
 
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