IOWA CITY, Iowa – Josh Jackson's stunning rise from reserve defensive back to star cornerback was recognized by the Big Ten Conference on Thursday as the league named him the winner of the 2017 Tatum-Woodson Defensive Back of the Year.

The award is given to the top defensive back in the conference, and it's probably fair to say that Jackson was considered a long shot to win it when the season started.

The junior from Corinth, Texas had only started one game as Hawkeye before this season and was sort of in the shadow of sophomore cornerback Manny Rugamba when the season started because of how well Rugamba had performed near the end of last season.

But then Jackson burst on the scene this season and started making one big play after another. He finished the regular season tied for the lead nationally with seven interceptions and with 25 passes defended, which leads the nation.

Jackson combined for five interceptions in back-to-back games against Ohio State and Wisconsin. He had three interceptions in Iowa's 55-24 victory over Ohio State on Nov. 4 at Kinnick Stadium and two pick sixes in a 38-14 loss to the Badgers a week later.

The 6-foot-1, 192-pound Jackson is the third Iowa defensive back to win the Tatum-Woodson award since 2012. Micah Hyde won the award in 2012, while Desmond King was the recipient in 2015. They both now play in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Chargers, respectively. 

Jackson, a former two-star recruit in high school, is also one of three finalists for the 2017 Jim Thorpe Award, which goes to the nation's top collegiate defensive back. King won the Jim Thorpe Award as a junior in 2015.