No. 46 — Keep an eye on

No. 46

. . . Yes, this is me weaseling out.

I really do think there is a handful of players who belong in the top 45 and are right there, but tight end Jake Duzey's injury and uncertainty at wide receiver and guard kind of forced my hand.

So, consider this a 'taxi squad' or a 'practice squad.' Or, really, just a list of players to cover my bases.

WR Jonathan Parker

. . . Going into week 9 last season at Minnesota, Parker led the Big Ten in kick returns. In the weeks leading up to the Minnesota game, Parker had returns of 47, 46 and 54 yards. Then, the 5-8, 185-pound sophomore caught the yips. Against the Gophers, he averaged 13.4 yards on five returns. The bottom fell out against Tennessee in the TaxSlayer Bowl, where Parker fielded a kick that was straddling out of bounds, lost his balance and then tried a forward lateral to keep the play alive. It ended with Iowa ball at its 2-yard line and compounded what had already been a horrific start.

Here's why you don't give up on Parker: Between jet sweeps and successful kick returns, he averaged 16.6 yards a touch in 2014 (54.9 yards a game). He has explosive speed that could go off at anytime, a commodity that the Hawkeyes aren't exactly swimming in.

Guard Sean Welsh

. . . Is he staying or going? The 6-3, 288-pound guard started the first seven weeks of 2014 at left guard. He suffered an injury at Maryland and then was in and out of the lineup after senior Tommy Gaul moved in at center and pushed Austin Blythe over to guard.

Iowa really could use an experienced starter, but Welsh missed spring practice because of undisclosed personal reasons. Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said early June that Welsh had returned to the team and was training.

You miss 15 spring practices in the wake of a year where you started as a redshirt freshman? It just doesn't feel like a sound situation. Welsh could very well come back and claim a guard spot, but let's file this in 'see it, believe it' for now.

LB Jameer Outsey

. . . The 6-3, 235-pound redshirt freshman spent much of the spring game as a third-team inside linebacker. He's too good-looking of an athlete to leave out of the mix. At linebacker, he's probably not going to see much playing time. The top five have more experience and appear to be pretty well set. For now, Outsey is a big body that you might see somewhere on special teams. There didn't appear to be any momentum for a position switch (DE perhaps?) at the end of spring practice.

DT Kyle Terlouw

. . . A walk-on from Iowa Central Community College, Terlouw's lifelong dream is playing football for the Hawkeyes at Kinnick Stadium. 'I like the style of football they play,' Terlouw said. 'It's big, in your face, tough football. That's kind of who I am and that's why I wanted to be a part of this.'

He has a chance to be a bigger part of this than you might think. The 6-4, 288-pound junior was physical during spring practice, seeing time as a No. 2 defensive tackle.

Defensive line coach Reese Morgan said you will see Terlouw, a Sully native, in the rotation this fall.

DE Parker Hesse

. . . The redshirt freshman from Waukon will need some more development. He made the move from outside linebacker to defensive end during bowl prep last December. Listed at 6-3, 240 this spring, the body build is on.

If Iowa goes beyond three defensive ends (seniors Drew Ott and Nate Meier and freshman Matt Nelson), you'll probably see Hesse.

l Comments: (319) 398-8256; marc.morehouse@thegazette.com