Iowa football: Position change going well for Parker Hesse and Matt Nelson
By Andrew Wade
Two former Iowa football players are making the difficult transition from defense to offense in the NFL, and so far, it’s going better than expected.
Former Iowa football players Matt Nelson and Parker Hesse are doing something few do at the highest level of professional football: switch to the other side of the ball.
Both Nelson and Hesse were two of the three seniors on the Iowa football team’s dominant 2018 defensive line, but their futures were brighter on the offensive side of the ball. And despite having zero collegiate experience on the offensive side of the ball, each of the guys proved during their tenure with the Iowa football team, they would outwork anyone, which is why New England Patriots disciples Matt Patricia (Lions) and Mike Vrabel (Titans) took a chance on them.
At 6’7” and 299 pounds, Matt Nelson’s body is more the build of an offensive tackle than an interior defensive lineman and at 6’3” and 261 pounds, Parker Hesse’s build, and athletic makeup bodes much better as a versatile H-Back type.
Signing as undrafted free agents, neither is expected to make the roster, but so far, they appear to be turning heads.
Nelson is currently slotted as a third-team tackle but impressed a few media folks in his development so far.
As far as third-string, UDFA O-lines go, this Lions left side of Beau Benzschawel and Matt Nelson is starting to look pretty solid. Benzschawel just won two easy 1-on-1 reps.
— Chris Burke (@ChrisBurkeNFL) August 14, 2019
Hesse, meanwhile, has had a few more noticeable ups and downs (most noticeable being a holding call on a nice run in his first preseason game), but the fact that he was getting snaps early in the Titan’s preseason-opening contest against the Eagles is a huge sign that he is impressing in camp.
Interesting to see Parker Hesse, DL turned TE, in the game this early. I've thought he's probably more of a P-squad candidate.
— Tom Gower (@ThomasGower) August 9, 2019
As we get deeper into the preseason, we will begin to see even more of both of these young Iowa football players.
Nelson and the Detroit Lions have a game tomorrow evening against the Texans before taking on Nick Easley and the Buffalo Bills next week. They wrap up a game against Cleveland on August 29th.
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Hesse and the Titans also have a game tomorrow night, but against the Patriots. Their final two preseason games are on the road against the Steelers and the Bears.