Mel Kiper Jr. on Iowa's Shonn Greene, Mitch King

ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. complimented former Iowa players Shonn Greene and Mitch King during a conference call with reporters this morning.

Kiper said Greene, a running back, likely will be selected in rounds two through four. Kiper said Greene definitely would be a second-round pick but questioned Greene’s pass-catching skills.

“He could go late seconds to early fourth,” Kiper said. “If he was a more complete player, I think he’d be a guaranteed two.”

King has been projected to compete anywhere from defensive line to linebacker to even fullback. Kiper called King “a hustler.”

“I think he could play end or tackle depending upon the scheme,” Kiper said. “He’d be a fit for one of the two. Every team is not going to look at Mitch King and say he’s way up there but he’s a guy who’s very, very productive, good technique, never quits on a play.

"As a rotation guy and as a guy who can give you some versatility inside and as a kid who spills his guts every play … I would say Mitch King has got a chance to be a fourth-round pick.”

Greene rushed for 1,850 yards and 20 touchdowns last year for Iowa. Both are school records. Greene was a consensus All-American and won the Doak Walker Award as the nation’s best running back.

“Running backs always drop a little bit,” Kiper said. “(Dallas’) Deshard Choice went in the fourth round. (Houston’s) Steve Slaton went in the third round. Both had outstanding years.”

King was a second-team All-American and was named the Big Ten’s Defensive Lineman of the Year.