Hesse, Nelson, Stanley will represent Iowa at Big Ten media gathering

Mark Emmert
Hawk Central

Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz will bring Parker Hesse, Matt Nelson and Nate Stanley with him to the annual Big Ten Conference media days gathering in Chicago next week.

Hesse and Nelson are senior defensive linemen. Stanley is the Hawkeyes' junior quarterback. He is only the second junior in Ferentz's 20 seasons as head coach to be selected to attend the media days event. Middle linebacker Josey Jewell got the nod two years ago.

Matt Nelson, wrapping up a Nebraska ballcarrier last fall, is sitting out of spring practices for Iowa with a right foot injury. He is being looked at as somebody who could play both defensive end and defensive tackle.

The Iowa contingent will speak to the media July 24 at the Chicago Marriott hotel. Ferentz will kick off the second day of the gathering with an 8 a.m. news conference. The players will talk to reporters at 2:15 p.m.

Each Big Ten team brings three players plus a head coach to the event.

Stanley was an honorable mention all-Big Ten honoree last season, his first as a starter. He threw 25 touchdown passes.