Desmond King is the ultimate student-athlete
By Pat Harty
IOWA CITY, Iowa – With all that Desmond King has accomplished as an Iowa football player, which covers a lot of territory, one thing stands above everything else.
It’s not even close, and I’m sure his mother would agree.
His on-the-field achievements have made King one of the most decorated players in the history of the Iowa program.
But it’s what he did off the field in just 3 ½ years that shines brightest.
Nothing against the football stuff, but to graduate from college in less than four years under any circumstance is impressive.
To do it as a student-athlete is incredible. And rare.
“It sends a really good message,” said Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz. “And to graduate in three-and-a-half years for anybody, that's not easy. I think the norm right now is four-and-a-half to five (years) for any student. It's kind of the way he works on the field. He just works, always practicing, doesn't miss things.
“It's really an admirable thing, and he's the first guy in that family to graduate which I know his mom is very, very proud of and Desmond is proud of it, too, and rightfully so. It's a just a really nice accomplishment.”
King was among several Iowa players who met with the media on Thursday to discuss preparation for the Outback Bowl and whatever else came up.
King earning his degree was a hot topic, and deservedly so.
“It was amazing, a very great moment in my life,” said King, who won the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's top collegiate defensive back as a junior in 2015. “Probably one of the best moments in my life, walking across that stage and getting my degree. It’s something that you always can remember for the rest of your life.”
In case you’re wondering, King didn’t travel the fast track by just loading up on hours during summer school. A student-athlete can only earn up to six credit hours during the summer per NCAA rules.
King took six hours in each of the past three summers, but the Detroit native also has carried full loads during the school year, a typical load being about 15 credit hours. Combine that with the 20 hours King spends practicing each week during the season with all of his off-season conditioning and finding time to study sometimes is a challenge.
Late nights. Early mornings. Whatever it takes.
That was King’s approach to earning a degree. He has been on a mission in which time is priceless and unforgiving.
King has treated time much like a receiver in that rarely does he let either gain the upper hand.
“I’m one of those guys that likes to get things done as soon as I can,” King said.
King took a risk by returning for his senior season. He was a hot commodity after last season and almost certainly would have made an NFL roster if he had skipped his senior year.
Many in King’s position aren’t willing to take that risk. That just shows how much earning a degree and making his mother proud meant to him.
The student comes before athlete in student-athlete for a reason.
That sometimes gets lost in a sport where some of the elite college players go on to make enough money in the NFL to offset any academic shortcomings.
But those players are few and far between.
King always will be a Hawkeye legend, but that won’t always pay the bills.
The hope is that he goes on to have a long and prosperous NFL career and then uses his college degree to build from that. The possibilities are endless for somebody in King’s position.
Continuing with the graduation theme, Ferentz mentioned a few players, both past and present, who recently had graduated, including former Iowa receiver Damond Powell, and some who graduated a while ago, including former defensive end Matt Roth and former tight end Michael Titley, who played under Hayden Fry at Iowa from 1989-90.
Powell barely was at Iowa for two years after transferring from junior college. He used up his eligibility in 2014, but still had a ways to go academically.
The Ohio native stayed the course and now has his degree, much to the delight of Ferentz.
“It was important and I know it was important to his mom and dad, first and foremost with them,” Ferentz said.
Roth returned to Iowa for his degree after playing for seven seasons in the NFL from 2005-11 with three different teams.
Roth had a reputation for being sort of a loose cannon in college who lived to play football. Maybe that was the case back then, but life has a way changing priorities.
“The biggest surprise of all time was when Matt Roth came back,” Ferentz said. “I had to ask him, I said, "You're doing this because of your mom, right?"
“He said, "No." He said, "I'm a father now. I've got kids and it's just important that I do this." I was like, you know, Matt Roth, the world does change.”
Ferentz also praised all-Big Ten senior defensive tackle Jaleel Johnson for staying committed to his academics. Johnson wasn't crazy about school when he arrived on campus, according to Ferentz, but he grew to appreciate the value of an education and is now excelling in the classroom.
"I can tell you right now, Jaleel is not wild about school," Ferentz said. "We knew that when we recruited him, and I don't think he's wild about it now. But he just probably had his highest GPA for a semester since he's been here. You know, just when you see those kinds of things, that really shows you guys are growing and doing things right."
As for King, his commitment to being a student-athlete helps to explain why he never has considered skipping the Outback Bowl to prepare for the NFL Draft, while three other elite college players have made that controversial decision, including Stanford running back Christian McCaffery.
“I’m about my team,” King said. “That’s why I came back here to get my education and play with my teammates. Just having that bond with them, it’s like my brothers. And just having the opportunity to play in the Outback Bowl is very significant.”
And when King says something is significant, he means it.