It’s becoming more and more rare for a college football player to spend his entire career with one program, and Cardinals sixth-round draft pick Karson Sharar did so patiently over five years as he broke out at Iowa.
The 6-foot-2, 231-pound linebacker didn’t see more than six games of action in his first three seasons with the Hawkeyes but made an NFL-ready statement in his final campaign behind 83 total tackles and four sacks across 13 games.
“I think that’s just the difference in the culture there, Iowa just treats (development) different and treats it more professional and I think they really prepare you as a player, make you develop and get you ready for the next level,” Sharar said Friday on Arizona Sports’ Bickley & Marotta.
The former high school basketball player from Iowa Falls, who had an offer to play at Drake, went off the board No. 183 with Arizona’s sixth selection of the 2026 draft. Besides another sport entirely, Sharar ramped up his speed and athleticism as a running back at Iowa Fall-Alden High School, posting multiple 1,000-plus-yard seasons with the ball in his hands for a change of pace.
He admitted that scoring touchdowns was “definitely a fun part of the game,” but being on that side of the ball has helped him refine his now-professional craft.
“Knowing the footwork of the running backs and then as well as different schemes they have, and kind of as a linebacker, you kind of got to match the running back and just being able to see that and know what’s going through the running back’s head, definitely helps me get into position to make plays,” Sharar said.
Sharar ran a 4.56-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Draft Combine in late February, one-tenth of a second behind Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles (4.46), who went No. 7 overall to the Washington Commanders. Though not a full-time starter till 2025, he put that speed to use across 545 career special teams snaps and put even more good on tape at the East-West Shrine Bowl.
“I’ve always had pretty good instincts out there ever since I started playing ball back when I was really young, about second grade. So, I just love going out there and competing and trying to make plays for the team,” Sharar told reporters Thursday.
The Iowan signed his four-year rookie deal with the Cardinals on Thursday alongside former Texas Tech receiver Reggie Virgil (fifth-round pick) and Ole Miss offensive lineman Jayden Williams (seventh round).
Sharar said he spent the past few weeks since the draft working with the Iowa training staff in Iowa City to get him geared up for rookie minicamp that began Friday and goes through Sunday.
“Just following their program and being around my former teammates has just been great to have their support and just leaning on them to continue to prepare and get ready for this opportunity,” Sharar said.
The linebacker had at least 10 total tackles in three games during his final season as a Hawkeye, including a career-high nine solo tackles and a sack on Iowa’s senior day against Michigan State.
The Cardinals’ mandatory minicamp for both rookies and veterans is set for June 8-10 with three voluntary sessions in the lead-up to that.
Hence then, the article about cardinals rookie karson sharar waited his turn at iowa and is ready for nfl opportunity was published today ( ) and is available on Arizona sports ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Cardinals rookie Karson Sharar waited his turn at Iowa and is ready for NFL opportunity )
Also on site :