Countdown to 2020 IUFB Kickoff: 18 Days Part 2 (Jonathan King)

Written by Amanda Pavelka (@AmandaPavelka3)

We are finally on the downhill slide of the Countdown to 2020 IU football kickoff. Less than three weeks remain until we get to see the Tom Allen and the Hoosiers face Penn State at The Rock. With 18 days to gameday, is only fitting to talk about the guy who will wear the Hoosiers’ No. 18 jersey in 2020– Jonathan King.

Name – Jonathan King

Position – Defensive Line (RS Sophomore)

Hometown – Tampa, FL (Tampa Bay Tech)

Height – 6’3”

Weight – 260 pounds

Jonathan King came to Bloomington as a product of the pipeline Tom Allen built to Florida. Ranked No. 39 defensive end in the country and the No. 70 recruit in Florida, King was a hot prospect for the class of 2018 and turned down over a dozen power five offers to play football at IU. King sealed senior year with an impressive 20.5 sacks, 44 tackles for loss, 29 quarterback hurries, six fumble recoveries, including on for a touchdown, four forced fumbles, and two blocked field goals that earned him first-team all-county selection.

King was joined by Tampa Bay Tech teammate Michael Penix in Bloomington where he utilized his redshirt for his freshman season. While his main focus as a freshman was strength and conditioning, King was named scout team player of the week for the Michigan State game.

Last season, King made his debut against Ball State and worked his way in the defensive line rotation for seven games. His highlight play last season was a pass breakup against Northwestern that earned him defensive player of the week.

King is down 16 pounds from last year, according to the roster. IU defensive coordinator Kane Wommack previewed the 2020 defense with the media this week and complimented King on his off-season work:

"We have some exciting guys in Jonathan King and Jeramy Passmore who have stepped their game to a different level and have given us something out there on the perimeter that we are really excited with,” Wommack said.

The once-young Hoosier defense is no longer, and King is a part of the group that has only improved under Wommack. With his continued development under new defensive line coach Kevin Peoples and dedication to strength and conditioning with Coach Aaron Wellman, King should have a healthy amount of opportunity to play in 2020.