Parker Hesse
To be honest, a number of defensive linemen could have been considered in this spot. The pass rush was tenacious, clutch, and a huge reason the Iowa football team didn’t allow a point until the end of the game. The standout from this group of standouts, though, is Parker Hesse.
Hesse, a redshirt senior out of Waukon, Iowa is in his fourth season as a full-time, unquestioned starter. Four year starters are not common in the Iowa football program if that provides any indication for how special Hesse really is. If Saturday’s performance showed anything, it’s that teams should be worried about #40.
Despite only getting four sacks last year, Hesse took down Northern Illinois’ Marcus Childers twice in the game. The first sack came on 3rd and 13 at the NIU 44 with Hesse tackling Childers for a three yard loss and forcing a punt.
The second sack came in the middle of the third quarter with Iowa up ten on the Huskies. With 2nd and 4 at the NIU 34, Hesse knocked the Huskies back another 10 yards. This set up an opportunity for the pass rush to relentlessly attack on third down. Kristian Welch would take advantage of this opportunity forcing a fumble when sacking Childers on third and long.
Although sacks are a fantastic statistic to measure pass rushers, the play that stood out was late in the first quarter. Hesse was double-teamed by two Huskies linemen, yet managed to blow up the play and take down the back before he could cross the line of scrimmage.
This kind of effort is what Hawkeye fans love to see from Ferentz led teams and is just one of the reasons Hesse received the Team Hustle Award on defense back in 2016.