Sean Merriman, BTN.com web editor, December 10, 2015

Iowa junior Desmond King was named the 2015 Jim Thorpe Award winner, which is given to the top defensive back in college football.

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King, who accepted the award Thursday night at the Home Depot College Football Awards, becomes the first Iowa player to take home the prestigious award.

King recorded a Big Ten-best eight interceptions this season, which also ranks second in the nation and first among Power-5 players. He recorded 67 tackles, with one tackle for loss, and 12 pass breakups. King has also handled kickoff returns (25.6) and punt returns (12.7) throughout the season.

The Hawkeyes' talented cornerback is the seventh Big Ten player to win the award since it was adopted in 1986. King joins former Michigan State All-American Darqueze Dennard (2013) and former OSU All-American Malcolm Jenkins (2008) as Big Ten players to take home the honor over the past decade.

Well done, Desmond!