ATLANTA (AP) — Iowa’s Desmond King has won the Jim Thorpe Award for the nation’s best defensive back. The award was presented Thursday night.

King, a junior cornerback, led Iowa with eight interceptions, including one he returned for a touchdown, this season. He is the first Iowa player to win the honor. He became the Big Ten’s seventh winner, tying the Southeastern Conference for the lead.

King was selected over Duke’s Jeremy Cash and Florida’s Vernon Hargreaves III. Louisville’s Gerod Holliman won the award last year.