Six members Iowa Hawkeyes were selected in the 2012 NFL Draft. This marks the third straight year the Hawkeyes have had six players taken.
Offensive lineman Riley Reiff, the third Hawkeye junior to enter the draft in the last three years, was a first round selection of the Detroit Lions, becoming Iowaโs third first round pick in the last three years. Iowa joins Alabama as the only two teams in nation to have a first round selection in each of the last three drafts.
Iowa has had 18 players selected in the last three years. That is the highest three-year total in the history of the Iowa program.
Joining Reiff in the draft were DL Mike Daniels, a fourth round selection of the Green Bay Packers, OL Adam Gettis, a fifth round selection of the Washington Redskins, DB Shaun Prater, selected in the fifth round by the Cincinnati Bengals, WR Marvin McNutt, Jr., selected in the sixth round by Philadelphia, and DB Jordan Bernstine, selected in the seventh round by the Redskins.
Reiff (6-6, 300) started 37 of 39 games during his Hawkeye playing career from 2009-11. During that time, Iowa compiled a 26-13 record and participated in the 2010 FedEx Orange Bowl (24-14 win against Georgia Tech), 2010 Insight Bowl (27-24 win against Missouri), and the 2011 Insight Bowl (31-14 loss to Oklahoma).
Daniels (6-1, 280) started all 13 games at defensive tackle in 2011 and had 21 career starts. Daniels was named second team all-Big Ten as a senior by league coaches and was honorable mention by league media. He earned the team Iron Hawk Award.
Daniels joined the Iowa program with little fanfare following his prep career, but proved to be a reliable cog at his tackle position. He led Iowa in QB sacks (9-53) and tackles for loss (13.5-63) as a senior, while recording 32 solo tackles and 35 assists overall.
Gettis (6-4, 280) is a native of Frankfort, Ill. and attended Lincoln Way East HS. He started all 13 games at right guard in 2011 and had 16 career starts. Gettis was named second team all-Big Ten as a senior by league coaches and was honorable mention by league media.
Prater (5-11, 185) earned first team all-Big Ten honors as a junior and senior, starting the final 25 games of his career and 35 games overall. He had one interception, returning the theft 89-yards for a touchdown in a non-conference win over Tennessee Tech. Prater had seven career interceptions for 173 yards, 19 career pass break-ups and four forced fumbles.
McNutt (6-4, 215) was named the Richter-Howard Wide Receiver of the Year in 2011 after catching 82 passes for 1,315 yards and 12 touchdowns. He was first team all-Big Ten by both coaches and media. He was named a permanent team captain and was named offensive MVP.
McNutt holds Iowa records for receiving yards in a season (1,315) and career (2,861) and single season (12) and career touchdown receptions (28). He tied the single season reception mark with his 82 catches this past season. He led the Big Ten in receiving yards per game, was second in receptions per game and sixth in all-purpose yards.
Bernstine (5-11, 205) recorded 44 solo tackles and 45 assists as a senior, including a career-high 15 tackles in a home win over nationally-ranked Michigan in his final season. He was also used on special teams, ranking seventh in the Big Ten in KO returns (23.8).
Under Kirk Ferentz, 51 Iowa Hawkeyes have been selected in the NFL Draft.
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