Over the years, the Iowa Hawkeyes have brought spectacular players to the field. The University of Iowa is known to produce players who frequently become NFL stars, so it’s not surprising that the Iowa Hawkeyes have so many amazing athletes. The team usually performs so well that bettors are quick to check its online betting odds before the matches. The odds are usually good, so people are eager to wager in the favor of an Iowa player.
The 21st century has a few important Hawkeyes players that will remain some of the best in history. The following list will tell you more about the top Iowa Hawkeyes players we have seen in the past years.
1. Bob Sanders
This list would not be complete without Bob Sanders, a player who was a 4-year starter for the Hawkeyes. Not only was he a captain and an essential player in the top-10 scoring defense in 2003, but he was also one of the key players in the first Iowa undefeated conference slate following an 80-year period.
Bob Sanders was a 2-time first team all-big ten honoree and a top player in the no.5 rushing defense in 2002 and no. 8 rushing defense in 2003.
Sanders later accomplished great achievements in the NFL, becoming a Super Bowl champion and being the 2007 AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He was also a 2-time all-pro selection.
2. Shonn Greene
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In any football game, you need a good rusher, and Shonn Greene proved he has what it takes to be one. In 2008, he was the Doak Walker Award winner and the only rusher in the country to top 100 yards in every game he played. Moreover, he punched in 20 rushing touchdowns.
3. Nate Kaeding
Nate Kaeding cannot skip the list, given his accomplishments. He was part of the class of 2003 and was a 4-year starter. He is the one who won the 2002 Lou Groza Award for being the best kicker on the college football team.
He shared his Big Ten record with no less than 367 career kick-scoring points and was the career scoring leader of Iowa with 373 points. Not only that, but he was a key member of the 2002 Big Ten Championship team.
It only made sense to see him thriving in the NFL later. The famous player made 91.4% of his field goals back in 2009. The San Diego Chargers took Kaeding with the 65th pick overall in the 2004 NFL draft. After the 2011 season, Kaeding became the most accurate kicker ever. He actually succeeded in converting 86.5% of his career field goal attempts.
4. Nico Ragaini
After the Hawkeyes had terrible luck in the wide receiver position for a while, Nico Ragaini came to save the day. He participated in 63 games while at Iowa, and he had 156 receptions for 1,609 yards and 4 touchdowns during his time with the Hawkeyes. So, there is no wonder that he is an essential part of Iowa history.
Later, Ragaini was given the opportunity to join the rookie mini camp of the Washington Commanders.
5. Adrian Clayborn
You can’t have a great team without a fantastic defense, and that became clear when Adrian Clayborn was part of the Hawkeyes. The player was an all-conference selection 2 times. He was a 3-year starter, and his performance with the team was absolutely spectacular. Throughout his time on the team, he helped the Hawkeyes win 28 games, as well as 3 bowl games.
6. Robert Gallery
As an offensive lineman, Robert Gallery was able to show what he is made of. The player was part of Iowa for back-to-back seasons. He was actually the offensive lineman of the year, getting his victory and trophy in 2003. Afterward, he became a first-round pick for the NFL.
7. Dallas Clark
Dallas Clark was someone who has proven that he is able to fill his role perfectly. He was part of the Hawkeyes in 2002, and that’s when he also became the recipient of the Mackey Award. Over only 2 seasons, he had 81 catches for 1,281 yards, which is a massive accomplishment.
8. Micah Hyde
Micah Hyde became the defensive back of the year for the Big Ten in 2012. He was known to be a threat to take interceptions back for touchdowns, as well as a willing tackler. During his sophomore season, he did this 2 times.
As you can see, the Iowa Hawkeyes had incredible talents over the years, with many of them going on to thrive in the NFL later. This shows just how high the standards are for becoming a player for this team.
