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Parker Hesse
Linebacker
Just signed, Parker Hesse! Welcome to #HawkNation! #GoHawks #Swarm2014 http://t.co/n4jqxqqWEI
— Hawkeye Football (@HawkeyeFootball) February 5, 2014
Waukon LB Parker Hesse signing with Iowa #hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/KtK9C4mxFI
— Darin Svenson (@Darinsvenson) February 5, 2014
Hometown: Waukon, Iowa
Height: 6'3
Weight: 205
247 Sports Composite Rating: 3-stars
Other Offers: Northern Iowa, South Dakota State
Caring Is Creepy: Have a seat, Parker Hesse
Obviously, Hesse is a project. For one, he is projected at linebacker despite playing defensive end in high school. For another, he's going to need some weight room time. And while you'd like to get in-state projects as walk-ons (no pun intended), especially given how tight the number of available scholarships in this class appears to be, the fact is that they're usually worth the scholarship.
Once the recruitniks took a good look at Hesse, who got his offer based in large part on a summer camp performance that opened the staff's eyes, the two-star project turned into a solid three-star recruit who could project all over the field. Iowa sees him as an outside linebacker -- his frame, athleticism, and experience as a high school quarterback practically screams for the SAM spot in Iowa's defensive system -- but will probably still need some work before stepping on the field. Iowa's looking to move former walk-on Travis Perry into that spot next year, so Hesse will have at least two years before there's an opening.