The Iowa football program has put countless great players into the NFL, with many of them having enormous success in the league.
Whether it’s making Pro Bowls, setting franchise records or winning Super Bowls, former Hawks in the NFL tend to do well. And that’s definitely the case for Marshal Yanda, who received big respect and high praise recently from ESPN.
ESPN released their NFL All Quarter Century Team last week which featured some of the greatest players of all time like Tom Brady, Randy Moss, Aaron Donald and many more.
The one former Hawkeye that ended up making the team was Marshal Yanda.
Yanda’s distinguished career with the Ravens included two first-team All-Pro selections. While we don’t have advanced blocking metrics for the majority of his career, his numbers were astounding near the tail end. He finished first among guards in run block win rate in both 2018 and 2019 and first in pass block win rate in 2019. — Walder, ESPN
Yanda was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the third round of the 2007 NFL draft and played his entire 12-year career in Baltimore. He made 166 starts, was a seven-time All-Pro and won the Super Bowl in 2012. ESPN named him as one of two right guards on this team alongside Dallas Cowboys great Zack Martin.
Yanda played two seasons at Iowa after transferring in from North Iowa Area Community College. He had a breakout senior season in 2006 when he was selected as a third-team All-American by the NFL Draft Report and was a second-team All-Big Ten player.
With the Ravens, Yanda made two first-team All-Pro and five second-team All-Pro squads and was only called for 11 holding penalties across his 12-year career.
Despite a short career in Iowa City, Yanda made his mark as a Hawkeye and had a great NFL career as well. Yanda got the respect he deserves from ESPN with a spot on the All Quarter Century team.
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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Former Iowa football great honored on ESPN All Quarter Century Team
Reporting by Zach Hiney, Hawkeyes Wire / Hawkeyes Wire
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