By hawkeyesports.com

PITTSBURGH — University of Iowa linebacker Karson Sharar was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the sixth round of Saturday’s NFL Draft. Sharar was the 183rd player picked overall.

The Iowa Falls, Iowa, native is the 11th linebacker selected in the Kirk Ferentz era.  He is the first Hawkeye linebacker selected since Jack Campbell in 2023.

Sharar (6-foot-2, 235 pounds) was an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection by both the coaches and media in 2025.  He finished the season with 83 tackles, including 12 tackles for loss, including four sacks, six pressures and one forced fumble.

Iowa’s defense led the nation in fourth down conversion percentage (23.8) and ranked fifth in first down defense (204), eighth in scoring defense (15.6), ninth in total defense (280.4) and 10th in passing defense (172.7).

During his career, Sharar played in 48 games with 13 starts, where he finished with 104 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and four sacks.  He was a key special teams player before taking over as the starting linebacker.

The Cardinals finished 3-14 a season ago in the NFC West.

Iowa has had at least one player drafted in every NFL Draft since 1978. Sharar is the 99th player coached by Kirk Ferentz at the University of Iowa to be selected in the NFL Draft.  It is the second straight year Iowa has had five players selected in the draft.

Sharar is the fifth Hawkeye selected in the 2026 NFL Draft, joining Logan Jones (Chicago), Gennings Dunker (Pittsburgh), Kaden Wetjen (Pittsburgh) and Beau Stephens (Seattle).